BK 


,     -     , 


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1     , 

i 


ARABESQUES. 


ARABESQUES: 


MONARE.  DOMITIA. 

APOLLYONA.  OMBRA. 


BY 

MRS.    RICHARD     S.    GREENOUGH, 

AUTHOR  OF  "LADY  TREMYSS;  OR,  TREASON  AT  HOME." 


BOSTON: 
ROBERTS     BROTHERS. 

1872. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1871,  by 

ROBERTS    BROTHERS, 

In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress  at  Washington. 


CAMBRIDGE: 

PRESS  OF  JOHN   WILSON   AND   SON. 


Iff 


CONTENTS. 


MONARE 3 

APOLLYONA 65 

DOMITIA I21 

OMBRA 155 


M  9523 


MONARE. 


M  O  N  A  R  E. 


IGHT  had  fallen,  covering 
the  broad  stretch  of  the 
plain  with  shadow.  The 
little  huts  which  clustered 
around  the  massive  castle 
of  Ilzerley  were  hidden 
from  sight ;  and  the  pres 
ence  of  the  castle  itself  could  be  perceived  only 
from  a  long,  pale  ray  of  light  which  streamed 
from  a  narrow  window,  the  window  of  the 
chapel  where  Walter  of  Ilzerley  kept  his  vigil, 
watching  his  armor,  for  the  next  day  was  to 
see  him  dubbed  a  knight. 

The  castle  was  filled  with  lords  and  ladies 
from  all  the  country  round,  come  to  assist  at 
to-morrow's  ceremony.  There  had  been  feasting 
and  revelling,  dance  and  song ;  but  now  all  had 


ARABESQUES. 


retired  to  rest ;  and  the  young  man  knelt  before  the 
.     altar,  companioned  by  solemn  thoughts  alone. 

'T-he^chaperwas  narrow  and  high  ;  from  niches 
•  \  'QH -either  sidt?  grim  effigies  of  saints  looked  down  ; 
'ranged  Oil  either  hand  stood  the  suits  of  armor 
of  the  past  lords  of  Ilzerley,  each  guarding  as 
it  were  his  own  tomb.  The  pavement  was  worn 
and  uneven.  Overhead  swung  an  iron  lamp, 
suspended  by  a  chain.  It  lighted  but  faintly  the 
gloom  of  the  chapel ;  its  rays  seemed  gathered 
together  upon  Walter's  form  as  he  knelt  below 
it,  and  were  reflected  from  his  snowy  vest  and 
curling  golden  hair. 

He  knelt  and  prayed  that  he  might  be  strength 
ened  worthily  to  fulfil  the  vows  he  was  to  take 
on  the  morrow.  He  thought  of  the  long  line 
of  ancestors  from  whom  he  was  descended,  and 
his  heart  burned  to  emulate  their  noble  deeds. 
He  thought  of  the  woe  and  wickedness  that  di 
vided  the  earth  between  them  ;  and  he  longed 
to  grasp  his  knightly  sword  to  do  battle  for  the 
oppressed.  And  as  he  mused  and  prayed  alter 
nately,  the  night  wore  on. 

It  was  at  the  deepest  and  the  darkest  when  a 
low  wind  swept  through  the  chapel,  and  waved 
the  banners  on  the  wall.  He  thought  he  heard 
a  sad  human  wail,  but  the  wind  died  away.  He 
listened.  There  was  no  sound.  Again  he  mused 


MONARS. 


and  prayed,  and  again  the  wind  swept  through 
the  chapel,  louder,  stronger  than  before ;  and  it 
bore  with  it  the  sound  of  a  woman's  voice  wail 
ing,  — 

"Who  shall  deliver  me  from  this  captivity?" 

Walter  of  Ilzerley  started  to  his  feet.  He  felt 
the  golden  curls  rising  on  his  head  ;  but  his  heart 
was  stout  and  firm,  overflowing  the  while  with 
tender  ruth  and  compassion. 

"  Lo,  here  I  stand,  Walter  of  Ilzerley,  whom 
to-morrow  will  see  dubbed  a  knight ;  and  I  will 
strive,  so  help  me  God,  to  deliver  thee  from  thy 
captivity." 

And  as  he  spoke,  a  chorus  of  voices,  from  the 
suits  of  armor  of  the  dead  lords  standing  around, 
responded :  — 

"  We  attest  the  vow." 

And  eyes  looked  steadfastly  from  the  eye-holes 
of  the  before  empty  helmets,  and  the  steel-clad 
and  gauntleted  right  arms  were  raised,  as  if 
invoking  the  witness  of  God's  sight,  while  the 
banners  above  waved  solemnly,  as  if  conscious 
of  the  vow.  As  the  sound  of  the  voices  died 
away,  a  ruby  ring  fell  at  Walter  of  Ilzerley's  feet. 
As  it  struck  on  the  pavement  before  him,  the 
flame  of  the  lamp  flickered  and  went  out :  but 
he  was  not  left  in  darkness ;  a  rosy  light  flashed 
from  the  ring,  and  filled  the  chapel  with  a  soft 


ARABESQUES. 


radiance.  It  gleamed  on  the  iron  armor,  on  the 
stone  saints,  on  the  torn  and  time-stained  ban 
ners,  and  on  Walter's  awe-struck  face.  He  raised 
it  and  placed  it  on  his  hand ;  then,  kneeling 
before  the  altar,  he  prayed,  with  earnestness  un 
known  before,  that  God  would  grant  him  wisdom, 
valor,  and  patience  to  rescue  from  her  captivity 
the  lady  who  had  called  him  to  her  aid. 

The  next  day  came,  and  with  great  pomp  and 
solemnity  the  gray-headed  old  Count  of  Lestuys 
gave  him  the  knightly  accolade,  and  the  two 
fairest  damsels  of  the  assemblage  buckled  on 
his  golden  spurs,  and  tied  his  scarf  across  his 
breast. 

Great  preparations  had  been  made  for  feast 
ing  for  many  days.  Minstrels  and  harpers  had 
flocked  to  the  castle ;  the  pantry  and  buttery 
were  filled  to  overflowing  with  mighty  pasties, 
huge  loaves  of  manchet  bread,  and  great  baskets 
of  cakes  made  with  spices  and  honey.  Casks  of 
the  oldest  and  strongest  wines  were  broached, 
and  all  was  gladness  and  gayety.  But  the  mid 
night  voice  sounded  ever  in  Walter's  ear,  with 
its  complaint,  — 

"Who  shall  deliver  me  from  this  captivity?" 

He  looked  at  the  ruby  ring.  Its  rays  seemed 
hour  by  hour  to  pale.  He  determined  to  delay 
no  longer,  but  to  set  forth  that  very  afternoon. 


MONAR&. 


So  while  all  the  guests  were  assembled  in  the 
great  hall,  listening  to  the  minstrels  who  were 
singing,  turn  by  turn,  the  romance  of  Gui  de 
Provens,  he  mounted  his  white  horse,  took  his 
shield  on  which  he  had  that  clay  ordered  the  de 
vice  of  a  ring  to  be  painted  with  the  motto,  "  I 
seek  ; "  and,  without  bidding  adieu  to  any  one, 
he  crossed  the  drawbridge,  and  went  on  his  way. 

As  his  gallant  white  steed  passed  across  the 
creaking  and  groaning  bridge,  he  tossed  his  head 
and  snorted  cheerily  ;  and  the  ruby  ring  on  Wal 
ter  of  Ilzerley's  finger  sent  forth  rays  so  briHiant 
that  he  could  scarcely  bear  to  look  at  it.  They 
lay  like  a  rosy  line  of  light  before  hirh  ;  and  those 
whom  he  met  shaded  their  eyes  with  their  hands, 
and  said,  — 

"  Mort  de  St.  Denis  !  that  young  knight's  armor 
shines  so  bright  that  one  can't  look  at  him." 

For  they  did  not  know  that  it  was  the  ruby 
ring  that  dazzled  them. 

He  journeyed  on  all  that  day.  The  land  was 
sad  and  sterile.  At  intervals  rose  dark  and 
frowning  fortresses,  each  with  a  little  settlement 
of  huts  around  it.  In  the  immediate  neighbor 
hood  of  these  strongholds  he  saw  cultivated 
fields,  horses  and  cattle  peacefully  grazing ;  but 
it  seemed  as  if  neither  peasant  nor  animal  dared 
venture  outside  that  narrow  circuit.  The  ground 


ARABESQUES. 


between  was  bare  and  wild.  Ever  and  anon  he 
would  pass  an  abbey  or  convent  with  its  towers 
and  its  ample  domain.  There  he  saw  more 
thrift,  wider  fields  and  fairer  crops ;  but  there 
were  few  of  these,  not  enough  to  redeem  the 
look  of  desert  solitude  of  the  country. 

As  night  drew  on,  he  found  himself  on  a  bleak 
and  sullen  sweep.  The  earth  looked  as  though 
fire  had  passed  over  it,  and  had  left  it  strewn 
with  ashes.  Dismal  fogs  rose  in  the  distance, 
and  slowly  crept  forward  as  if  to  meet  and 
encircle  him.  His  horse  turned  his  head  towards 
his  master  and  neighed  plaintively,  as  if  asking 
where  they  were  to  find  shelter.  Walter  of 
Ilzerley  looked  anxiously  at  his  ring  as  for  guid 
ance.  As  his  eye  rested  on  it,  it  shot  forth  a 
long  ray  that  pierced  the  gathered  fog  and 
showed,  on  a  small  eminence  before  him,  a  low, 
gray  hut.  The  young  man  cheered  his  horse 
with  his  voice,  and  raised  him  with  the  bridle ; 
and,  avoiding  as  he  best  might  the  pools  filled 
with  brackish  water  which  were  scattered  over 
the  plain,  he  pressed  forward  towards  the  soli 
tary  gray  hut. 

As  he  approached  it,  a  towering  form,  clothed 
in  a  knight's  surcoat,  appeared  at  the  door. 

"  Good  knight,  I  crave  your  hospitality  for 
the  dark  hours,"  said  the  young  man. 


MONARE. 


"  Such  as  I  have  to  offer  is  yours,"  replied 
the  knight  in  a  deep,  hoarse  voice.  And  he 
drew  near  the  steed,  as  the  rider  dismounted, 
stretching  out  his  hand  as  if  to  take  the  bridle. 
But  as  he  advanced,  the  horse  trembled  in  every 
limb,  laid  his  ears  close  to  his  head,  and  started 
back  cowering.  The  knight  turned  on  his  heel 
without  remarking  the  strange  behavior  of  the 
steed,  and  led  the  way  to  a  sort  of  cave  behind 
the  eminence. 

"  You  will  find  fodder  and  water  within,"  he 
said. 

The  cave  was  dark  ;  but  the  ruby  ring  lighted 
its  every  corner,  and  showed  a  clear  stream 
trickling  from  a  rock  on  one  side,  and  a  pile  of 
dried  grass. 

The  knight  stood  silent  at  the  door  while  the 
young  man  rubbed  down  and  caressed  his  tired 
steed.  Then,  when  these  kind  offices  were  ac 
complished,  he  bade  him  follow. 

He  conducted  Walter  into  the  hut,  which  was 
furnished  with  a  strange  mixture  of  poverty  and 
of  luxury.  On  the  rough  wooden  table  lay  a  cloth 
broidered  with  hawks  and  hounds;  on  rude 
shelves  stood  silver  flagons ;  and  on  the  earthen 
floor  was  laid  a  carpet  from  Eastern  looms. 
But,  peculiar  as  were  these  things,  Walter  of 
Ilzerley's  attention  was  still  more  powerfully 


10  ARABESQUES. 

attracted  by  a  strange  odor  which  pervaded  the 
hut,  —  a  smell  as  of  some  wild  animal.  He 
glanced  around  to  see  whether  his  host  had 
not  some  slaughtered  creature  near.  But  noth 
ing  was  to  be  seen. 

The  host  bade  Walter  be  seated,  and  gave 
him  bread  and  wine. 

u  I  have  no  meat  to  offer  you,"  he  said  ;  and, 
as  he  spoke,  his  eyes  grew  small  and  green,  he 
half  smiled,  and  showed  white,  pointed  teeth. 

Walter  of  Ilzerley  looked  keenly  at  him  ;  but 
the  knight's  eyes  were  as  they  had  been  before, 
and  the  points  had  vanished  from  his  teeth. 

u  No  meat  is  needed,"  said  Walter ;  and  he 
crossed  himself  and  gave  thanks  ere  he  broke 
the  bread. 

The  knight  breathed  hard,  and  drops  stood 
on  his  forehead,  as  he  heard  the  holy  words. 

When  the  young  man  had  ended  his  frugal 
supper,  he  arose  and  requested  his  host  to  show 
him  where  he  was  to  sleep.  The  hermit  knight 
drew  aside  a  heavy  curtain  and  revealed  a  small 
inner  room  wherein  was  a  low  bed,  and  bade 
him  sleep,  and  sleep  soundly.  His  eyes  again 
grew  small  and  green  as  he  spoke  ;  and,  as  he 
smiled,  he  showed  again  white,  pointed  teeth. 

Walter  of  Ilzerley  knelt  before  his  cross-hilted 
sword,  and,  having  prayed,  took  off  his  armor 


MONAR&.  II 


and  lay  down  upon  the  low  pallet.  For  some 
time  he  could  not  sleep.  The  strange  odor,  as 
of  some  wild  animal,  seemed  to  taint  and  poison 
the  air.  But  at  length  weariness  overcame  him, 
and  his  eyelids  closed. 

He  was  wakened  by  a  vivid  flash  like  light 
ning  across  his  eyes.  He  started  to  his  feet,  and 
instinctively  grasped  the  sword  which  he  had 
laid  beside  him.  The  ruby  was  sending  forth 
fiery  darts,  and  showed,  below  the  heavy  curtain 
of  the  entrance,  the  head  and  shoulders  of  an 
enormous  wolf,  with  green  eyes,  and  pointed, 
glistening  teeth.  Walter  of  Ilzerley  sprang 
towards  the  animal,  and  smote  upon  its  hairy, 
bristling  neck  with  his  good  sword. 

A  human  shriek  rent  the  air ;  the  monster 
changed  before  his  horror-stricken  sight ;  and 
there  at  his  feet,  the  blood  pouring  from  a 
ghastly  wound  in  his  throat,  lay  the  knight  who 
had  bidden  him  welcome,  —  a  were-wolf. 

The  young  man  stood  for  a  moment  without 
speech  or  motion  ;  then  he  took  from  the  shelf 
in  the  next  room  a  tall,  long-necked  silver  flagon, 
and  filled  it  with  the  smoking  blood  ;  for  in  those 
days  every  one  knew  that  a  drop  of  the  blood 
of  a  were-wolf,  which  never  curdles,  would  bring 
to  life  his  victims,  no  matter  how  long  they  had 
been  dead.  This  being  done,  he  had  no  mind 


12  ARABESQUES. 

to  tarry  longer  in  the  dead  monster's  den  ;  and 
so  he  saddled  and  bridled  his  horse,  and  rode 
away  over  the  dark  plain. 

As  the  day  began  to  break,  he  saw,  rising  from 
the  surface  of  the  plain,  large  heaps  of  white 
stones  surmounted  by  wooden  crosses.  Most  of 
them  seemed  to  have  been  there  for  a  long  time, 
but  one  of  them  was  freshly  erected.  As  he  ap 
proached,  he  saw,  crouching  on  the  ground  be 
side  it,  a  little  boy.  The  young  man's  heart 
melted  at  the  sight  of  the  desolate  child  crouch 
ing  on  the  ground  damp  with  the  night  dew. 
He  drew  near.  As  the  child  heard  the  horse's 
steps,  he  looked  up  and  showed  a  face  pale  with 
weeping. 

"  My  child,  what  brings  you  here?"  said  the 
young  knight.  "  Where  is  your  home,  and  where 
are  your  parents?" 

"  I  have  no  home.  There  lies  my  only  parent, 
killed  by  the  were-wolf,  like  all  the  rest,"  said 
the  child ;  and  he  sobbed  and  wept  aloud. 

Walter  of  Ilzerley  descended  from  his  horse, 
and,  raising  the  silver  flagon,  poured  from  it  one 
drop  upon  the  stones. 

Immediately  the  heap  quaked,  and  was  rent 
asunder,  and  forth  came  a  man  whole  and  un 
harmed,  rubbing  his  eyes  like  one  aroused  from 
slumber. 


M  ON  A  RE.  13 


"Why,  Tristam,  my  son,  I  wake  from  an 
ugly  dream.  I  thought  the  were-wolf  had  me. 
—  But  what  makes  you  look  so  pale  ?  "  said  the 
man  as  he  patted  the  head  of  the  child,  who  was 
staring  at  him  with  widely  opened  eyes,  and 
cheeks  paler  than  before. 

The  little  boy  did  not  speak,  for  he  was  too 
much  frightened  ;  but  the  young  knight  told  him 
all  that  had  happened ;  whereupon  the  man 
knelt  down  and  thanked  God  and  Walter  of 
Ilzerley  alternately. 

The  knight  gave  the  man  half  of  the  blood, 
and  bade  him  let  fall  one  drop  of  it  on  all  the 
heaps  of  stones ;  he  charged  him  also  to  say 
himself,  and  to  bid  all  that  the  wolf's  blood  should 
bring  to  life  to  say,  three  Pater-nosters  every 
morning  and  every  evening  for  his  success  in  the 
expedition  on  which  he  was  bound ;  then  he 
rode  away  where  the  ruby  light  pointed. 

As  he  reached  the  border  of  the  plain,  he 
looked  back,  and  saw  a  kneeling  crowd  ;  and,  as 
he  strained  his  ear,  the  morning  wind  brought  to 
him  the  sound  of  their  prayer  and  praise.  And 
his  heart  was  glad  within  him,  and  he  journeyed 
on  in  the  sweet  light  of  the  sun,  over  fields  fair 
with  flowers  and  glittering  with  dew.  Little 
birds  sang  on  the  trees,  and  the  May  flies  and 
butterflies  sported  around  him,  as  he  rode  on  his 


14  ARABESQUES. 

way,  singing  an  old  song  of  knightly  valor  and 
of  ladies'  grace. 

The  sun  was  high  overhead  when  he  saw  in 
the  distance  a  castle  by  the  sea.  As  he  came 
towards  it,  he  saw  that  it  was  broad  and  high, 
and  looked  as  if  it  were  the  residence  of  some 
mighty  lord ;  but  no  knightly  banner  floated 
from  its  walls.  A  large  black  pennon  drooped 
sadly  against  its  staff.  Walter  of  Ilzerley  rode 
forward  and  sounded  the  horn  which  hung  ready 
for  the  use  of  travellers.  A  head  appeared  at 
the  small  grated  window  in  the  gate,  and  the 
porter  asked  who  sounded,  and  what  was  his 
errand. 

"  Walter  of  Ilzerley  am  I  called,  and  my  er 
rand  is  to  redress  a  great  wrong,"  answered  the 
young  knight. 

"  Tarry  awhile  till  I  ask  what  is  my  lady's 
will  concerning  you,"  said  the  porter ;  and  he 
retired  from  the  grate,  leaving  the  traveller  much 
surprised  at  such  an  uncourteous  reception.  He 
looked  around  as  he  sat  on  his  steed  waiting. 
The  peasants  of  the  surrounding  cottages  were 
busy  at  their  toil  in  the  fields.  They  were  more 
hale  and  cheerful  than  most  of  their  class.  They 
looked  well  fed  and  well  cared  for,  but  each  man 
wore  a  black  band  upon  his  right  arm  ;  and  the 
women  and  girls,  whom  he  saw  busy  at  their 


MONARS.  15 


household  tasks,  all  wore  black  caps  and  scarfs. 
Yet  they  talked  and  laughed  gayly,  and  seemed 
to  pay  no  he^d  to  the  gloomy  tokens  they  bore. 

His  marvelling  was  interrupted  by  the  rattling 
of  the  chains  that  supported  the  drawbridge,  and 
the  groaning  of  the  portcullis  as  it  was  raised  to 
admit  him.  He  rode  forward.  As  he  entered 
the  court-yard,  he  perceived  that  the  porter  and 
all  the  retainers  were  dressed  in  black.  At  the 
extremity  of  the  court,  on  the  lowest  step  of  a 
broad  flight  of  stone  stairs,  stood  the  seneschal, 
a  venerable,  white-bearded  man,  clothed  in  black 
like  the  rest. 

"  Welcome,  Walter  of  Ilzerley,"  he  said  ;  "  my 
lady  awaits  you." 

The  young  knight  dismounted,  much  aston 
ished  at  all  he  saw. 

He  followed  the  seneschal  up  the  broad  stone 
stairs  into  a  long  and  lofty  room.  On  either  side 
sat  a  row  of  young  girls  spinning.  At  the  upper 
end  of  the  room,  on  a  raised  dais,  sat  the  lady. 
She  had  'been  beautiful ;  but  sorrow  had  fur 
rowed  her  forehead,  and  quenched  the  brightness 
of  her  eyes.  She  rose  as  the  young  knight  ap 
proached,  and  extended  her  hand. 

"Welcome,  Walter  of  Ilzerley,"  she  said; 
"welcome  to  a  doubly  smitten  house,  —  a  house 
reft  of  its  lord  and  of  its  child." 


16  ARABESQUES. 


"Were  your  sorrow,  lady,"  answered  the 
young  knight,  "  such  as  admitted  of  human  aid, 
then  would  I  bind  myself  to  your  service  so  soon 
as  my  present  errand  be  fulfilled ;  but  against 
such  grief  as  yours  the  bravest  arm  lies  helpless. 
I  can  but  grieve  with  you." 

The  lady  turned  to  an  old  priest  who  sat  in 
the  deep  embrasure  of  the  window  behind  her, 
reading  his  breviary,  and  who  had  not  even 
raised  his  head  at  the  young  man's  entrance. 

"  Father  Anselm,"  she  said,  "  tell  this  stranger 
the  story  of  my  woe.  Perhaps  it  may  be  granted 
to  him  to  succeed  in  that  enterprise  wherein 
those  that  preceded  him  have  failed." 

At  these  words  all  the  black-robed  maidens 
stopped  their  spinning,  and  fastened  their  eyes 
sorrowfully  on  the  young  knight,  and  sighed. 
It  was  as  if  a  low  wind  had  swept  through 
the  hall,  and  brought  back  to  Walter  of  Ilzer- 
ley's  memory  the  midnight  wail  in  the  chapel. 

The  old  priest  closed  his  book,  and  rose,  turn 
ing  towards  the  youth. 

"  My  blessing  be  upon  you,  my  son,"  he  said. 
"  The  lady's  will  shall  be  obeyed.  Follow  me 
to  my  cell.  There  will  I  tell  you  what  grievous 
woe  rests  upon  this  house." 

Walter  saluted  the  lady,  glanced  at  the  rows 
of  black-robed  maidens,  who  with  bowed  heads 


MONAR&.  17 


were  again  busy  at  their  wheels,  and  retired 
with  the  old  priest.  He  followed  him  through 
dark,  winding  passages,  cut  in  the  thickness 
of  the  stone  wall,  into  his  cell ;  narrow,  but 
lighted  by  a  window  which  looked  out  upon  the 
sea.  On  a  little  wooden  table  stood  a  crucifix 
and  a  skull ;  and  the  stone  floor  before  it  was 
worn  into  a  hollow  where  the  knees  of  the  good 
priest  had  been  pressed  in  his  hours  of  prayer. 

"  Be  seated,  my  son,"  said  Father  Anselm,  as 
he  drew  forward  a  wooden  stool,  and  offered  it 
to  the  youth.  He  sat  down  himself  upon  the 
low  truckle-bed,  folded  his  hands,  and  heaved 
a  deep  sigh.  After  a  pause,  during  which  Wal 
ter  pondered  what  grief  this  might  be,  and 
what  courage  and  fortune  might  be  necessary 
to  remove  it,  the  old  priest  thus  began :  — 

"  Do  not  think,  my  son,  that  this  castle  was 
always  the  gloomy  abode  that  you  now  see  it. 
I  remember  when  troops  of  lords  and  ladies 
made  it  gay  with  jest  and  song  from  morn  till 
midnight.  Every  day  there  was  hunting  and 
hawking,  tilting  and  jousting ;  for  the  count 
and  countess  were  young,  and  loved  pleasure, 
like  all  the  young  and  fortunate.  Good  were 
they,  and  pious  also ;  and  on  the  first  day  of 
every  month,  they  and  all  their  guests  and  all 
their  household,  carrying  lighted  tapers,  walked 


1 8  ARABESQUES. 

in  solemn  procession  to  the  shrine  of  St.  Mary 
of  ^spramont,  a  league  away,  on  the  high  hill 
that  overhangs  the  sea. 

"It  was  fourteen  years  ago, — I  shall  never 
forget  that  glad  and  sunny  morning  which  was 
to  have  so  black  a  close,  —  fourteen  years  ago 
the  drawbridge  was  lowered,  and  forth  walked 
Count  Egbert  in  his  gorgeous  dress,  leading  by 
her   hand   his    lady  all  blazing  with    gold    and 
jewels,  both  bearing  great  waxen  tapers  half  an 
ell  high.     And  all  the  lords  and  ladies,  magnifi 
cently  attired   and  bearing   lighted   tapers   also, 
and  all   the   household,  followed,   save    two   or 
three  old  servants  who  were  too  infirm  to  walk 
so  far,  and  the  count  and  countess'  little  daugh 
ter,  their  only  child,  a  babe  a  twelvemonth  old, 
with  her  nurse.     The  nurse  stood  on  the  lower 
step  of  the  great  stone  stairs,  and  held  the  child 
in  her  arms ;    and  the  little  thing   sprang  and 
laughed  for  joy  as  she  saw  the  goodly  company 
and  the  lighted  tapers  pass  by.     Each  lord  and 
lady  saluted  her  and  bade  her  good-by  as  they 
passed  ;  for  she  was  a  sweet  and  gracious  child, 
and   all   loved   her.     Her    father    and     mother 
looked  back  and  smiled  and  beckoned  with  their 
hand  at  her  as  they  left  the  court-yard  ;  but  they 
did  not  dream  that  that  was  to  be  their  last  look 
on  their  little  one. 


MONARJE.  19 


"  The  procession  passed  over  the  drawbridge 
and  through  the  pleasant  fields,  chanting  St. 
Mary's  hymn  as  they  went.  The  sweet  voices 
of  the  ladies  and  the  deep  tones  of  the  knights 
sounded  as  though  nightingales  were  singing 
beside  the  swelling  sea. 

"  Strange  was  it  that  the  moment  which  saw 
the  count  and  countess  bent  on  such  pious  in 
tent  should  have  brought  to  them  the  misery  of 
their  lives.  As  they  rose  from  their  knees  before 
the  shrine,  one  of  the  knights  looked  towards 
the  sea  and  shouted,  '  Holy  Virgin,  the  pirates  ! ' 

"  They  all  rushed  to  the  edge  of  the  cliff;  and 
there,  below  them,  they  saw  a  great  Saracenic 
galley  just  entering  the  bay  before  the  castle. 
The  ladies  shrieked  and  knelt,  all  save  the 
countess.  She  snatched  the  dagger  from  her 
husband's  belt,  and  sprang  down  the  steep.  The 
count  and  all  the  knights  and  retainers  followed, 
bounding  like  deer  over  the  stones,  down  the 
broken  and  rugged  way,  the  countess  before 
them.  The  way  was  long,  —  too  long.  The 
castle  was  hid  from  their  sight  by  the  thick  wood. 
They  darted  through  its  shadows,  and  came  out 
upon  the  sunny  plain.  The  pirates  were  already 
in  their  boats.  Ere  the  knights  could  reach  the 
shore,  they  had  gained  their  vessel ;  the  wind 
was  filling  her  sails  and  bearing  them  away. 


20  ARABESQUES. 

"  The  countess  had  flown  towards  the  castle. 
As  her  husband  and  his  friends,  baffled,  for  they 
had  no  vessel  wherewith  to  chase  the  pirates, 
crossed  the  drawbridge  which  had  been  left 
lowered  for  their  return,  they  saw  the  murdered 
bodies  of  the  old  servants  stretched  upon  the 
reddened  stones  of  the  court-yard. 

"  '  My  child ! '  cried  the  count  in  a  tone  of 
anguish  ;  and  he  rushed  towards  his  little  daugh 
ter's  room.  It  was  empty  of  child  and  nurse. 
On  the  floor  lay  the  countess,  still  and  white  as 
though  dead.  They  brought  her  back  to  life 
with  much  labor  and  pains ;  but  from  that  day 
neither  she  nor  her  husband  ever  smiled  again, 
nor  did  they  ever  renew  their  pilgrimage  to  St. 
Mary's  shrine,  which  was  a  great  wrong  to  the 
saint.  They  shut  themselves  up  in  their  private 
apartments,  and  mourned  without  ceasing.  No 
more  mirth  or  song  enlivened  the  castle,  and 
hospitality  was  given  to  strangers  for  one  night 
only.  They  brooded  over  their  loss  till  they 
fancied  themselves  aggrieved  by  Providence ; 
and  they  had  no  thought  for  the  still  greater 
distresses  of  the  poor  around  them,  who  that 
year,  for  it  was  a  year  of  famine,  saw  their  chil 
dren  perishing  before  their  eyes  for  lack  of 
food. 

"Another  great  misery  befell  on  that  year.     It 


MONAR&.  21 


was  the  appearance  of  the  were-wolf,  which  has 
ever  since  desolated  the  country." 

At  the  mention  of  the  were-wolf,  the  young 
man  bent  forward  and  listened  still  more  atten 
tively. 

"  The  Sieur  Nicolas  de  Maupre  was  a  haughty 
and  lawless  lord,  whose  chief  occupation  was  in 
waylaying  travellers,  and  his  chief  pleasure  in 
torturing  them  until  they  were  fain  to  ransom 
themselves  at  the  cost  of  all  they  possessed. 
This  wicked  lord,  as  I  say,  one  day  disappeared  ; 
and  no  one  could  imagine  what  had  become  of 
him,  until  many  others  disappeared  also,  and 
the  rumor  spread  in  the  country  that  a  were 
wolf  had  taken  up  its  abode  near  by.  Then 
every  one  knew  that  the  wicked  knight  had 
turned  himself  into  a  were-wolf;  and  all  the 
people  since  then  have  lived  in  terror  of  their 
lives,  and  many  have  been  destroyed  in  spite  of 
all  their  precautions ;  for  there  lives  no  beast  or 
being  so  treacherous,  so  wily,  and  so  cruel,  as 
the  were-wolf.  Anathema  maranatha  !  " 

And  the  priest  crossed  himself. 

"  But  I  must  go  on,  and  bring  my  sorrowful 
history  to  its  close.  One  afternoon  the  count 
wandered  forth  across  the  meadows  on  a  soli 
tary  walk.  Hours  passed,  the  evening  meal 
was  ready  to  be  served,  but  he  did  not  return. 


22  ARABESQUES. 

The  countess  was  at  prayers  in  the  chapel,  and 
did  not  perceive  her  lord's  absence  ;  but  those  of 
the  household  began  to  feel  uneasy.  They  were 
all  watching  if  they  could  catch  sight  of  the  count 
returning,  when  in  the  dusky  twilight  they  be 
held  the  figure  of  a  boy  running  towards  the 
castle.  As  he  reached  the  walls,  he  shouted,  — 

"'The  count!  the  were-wolf!'  and  sank 
down  upon  the  stones. 

u  All  the  retainers  seized  torches  and  weapons 
and  rushed  forth  in  search  of  their  master,  tak 
ing  courage  from  their  numbers ;  for  not  one  of 
them,  much  as  they  loved  their  lord,  would 
have  dared  venture  out  alone  with  the  chance 
of  meeting  the  monster. 

"  Guided  by  the  lad's  directions,  they  sought 
and  found  a  little  brook  which  ran  babbling 
down  from  a  steep  rock  into  the  sea ;  and  on  its 
bank  lay  all  that  remained  of  the  count.  He 
had  fought  manfully  against  the  beast,  as  the 
torn  and  trampled  ground  proved  ;  but  what  can 
one  mortal  man  do  against  a  were-wolf? 

"  With  groans  and  sobs  the  retainers  took  up 
their  lord's  remains  and  bore  them  to  the  castle ; 
and  not  one  of  them  but  wept  like  a  child  when 
the  countess  met  them  ere  they  reached  the 
drawbridge.  I  will  not  describe  her  grief.  One 
should  have  seen  it  to  know  what  it  was. 


MONARE.  23 


"  The  count  was  buried  in  the  chapel,  before 
the  altar ;  and  there  three  times  a  day,  at  morn 
ing  and  noon  and  night,  the  countess  kneels,  and 
listens  to  a  mass  for  the  dead.  And  her  afflic 
tion  has  borne  good  fruit.  She  spends  all  the 
rest  of  her  time  in  caring  for  the  sick,  the  poor, 
and  the  afflicted  ;  deeming  her  second  bereave 
ment  a  chastisement  sent  from  heaven  because 
of  the  rebellious  manner  in  which  she  received 
the  first.  And  all  the  country  around  blesses 
her,  and  grieves  because  of  her  grief. 

u  But  now,  my  son,  I  must  leave  you,  unless, 
indeed,  you  will  accompany  me  to  the  chapel ; 
for  noon  is  at  hand,  and  I  must  say  the  mass  for 
the  dead." 

"  One  instant,  my  father,"  said  Walter  of  Ilzer- 
ley ;  "  tarry  one  instant.  Surely  by  the  hand 
of  superhuman  wisdom  was  I  brought  hither." 

And  the  young  knight  told  the  priest  how  he 
had  slept  in  the  den  of  the  were-wolf,  and  had 
slain  him,  and  had  brought  away  his  blood. 
And  the  old  man  lifted  up  his  hands  and  thanked 
Heaven,  while  tears  of  joy  ran  down  his  withered 
cheeks  and  dropped  on  his  brown  robe.  Then 
he  led  Walter  to  the  chapel,  and  bade  him  stand 
at  the  foot  of  the  count's  tomb. 

He  had  scarcely  taken  his  place  there  when 
the  countess  appeared,  followed  by  all  her  ser- 


24  ARABESQUES. 

vants  and  retainers,  and  knelt  to  listen  to  the 
mass.  But,  instead  of  the  service  for  the  dead, 
the  old  priest  chanted  out,  in  a  broken  voice,  a 
canticle  of  thanksgiving.  The  countess  and  all 
her  servants  were  greatly  astonished  ;  the  more 
so  that  they  saw  the  young  knight  standing  with 
a  joyful  face,  holding  a  silver  flagon  upraised  in 
his  hand. 

When  the  priest  had  ended  the  canticle,  he 
said  in  a  loud  voice,  — 

"  Daughter,  arise  and  rejoice.  The  days  of 
thy  mourning  are  ended." 

Thereupon  Walter  of  Ilzerley  poured  a  drop 
of  the  were-wolf 's  blood  upon  the  tomb.  And 
the  tomb  opened  in  the  middle,  and  the  count 
arose  and  came  forth,  shading  his  eyes  with  his 
hand,  as  one  whom  a  sudden  light  wakens.  And 
the  chapel  was  filled  with  the  cries  of  fright  and 
joy  of  all  the  servants  and  retainers ;  but  the 
count  and  countess  spake  never  a  word,  but 
stood  fast  locked  in  each  other's  arms. 

That  night  bonfires  blazed  so  broad  and  high 
from  the  walls  of  the  castle,  that  they  reddened 
the  whole  sky ;  and  troops  of  horsemen  from 
all  the  fortresses  for  fifteen  miles  around  came 
hurrying  to  see  what  had  happened,  and  to  offer 
their  aid.  They  were  all  bid  right  welcome  ; 
and  oxen  were  roasted  whole,  and  a  great  row 


MONARE.  25 


of  wine-casks  was  brought  up  from  the  cellars, 
and  broached  and  ran  without  stint  or  measure. 
As  each  successive  troop  came  into  the  court-yard, 
and  were  met  by  the  joyful  news,  they  set  up 
such  a  shout  of  joy  that  it  echoed  from  the  castle 
walls  far  over  the  meadows  and  back  to  the  dis 
tant  hills.  Never  was  there  known  such  glad 
ness  and  revelling. 

But  Walter  of  Ilzerley,  when  the  evening  meal 
was  ended,  retired  from  the  great  hall,  bright 
with  the  blaze  of  a  hundred  torches,  and  glad 
with  the  voices  of  the  count  and  countess'  fast 
arriving  friends,  and  took  his  stand  upon  the 
walls  and  looked  towards  the  dark,  scarce  seen 
sea,  wondering  what  errand  it  might  be  that  he 
was  to  undertake  at  the  countess'  behest  when 
his  present  enterprise  should  be  ended.  He  was 
standing,  his  eyes  fixed  upon  the  ruby  ring  which 
shone  brightly  on  his  hand,  but  shot  forth  no 
guiding  ray,  when  Father  Anselm  approached 
him,  and  begged  that  he  would  deign  to  follow 
to  the  presence  of  the  count  and  countess. 

He  found  them  in  a  small,  round  room,  built 
in  one  of  the  towers.  In  the  middle  of  the  floor 
stood  a  child's  cradle,  the  bedclothes  tossed  here 
and  there  in  confusion,  as  if  the  little  creature 
had  been  but  just  snatched  up.  Around  were 
strewn  'little  playthings ;  and  on  a  chair  lay  a 


26  ARABESQUES. 

child's  embroidered  dress,  but  every  thing  looked 
old  and  tarnished. 

The  countess  was  standing,  her  hand  clasped 
in  her  husband's,  her  face  buried  on  his  shoulder. 
She  raised  her  head  as  the  young  knight  entered, 
and  he  saw  that  she  had  been  weeping.  The 
count's  face  also  was  sad  and  sorrowful.  The 
lady  spoke. 

"  Walter  of  Ilzerley,  God  knows  whether  or 
not  I  am  grateful  to  you  for  what  you  have  done 
this  day.  Not  because  I  lightly  esteem  the  ser 
vice  already  rendered  do  I  sue  you  for  another 
boon.  Father  Anselm  has  told  you  of  our  child. 
Nothing  in  this  room  has  been  touched  since  she 
was  stolen  from  it.  Each  night  of  these  long 
years  have  I  come  hither  to  mourn  for  my  dar 
ling.  Two  months  ago,  I  was  kneeling  here  at 
midnight,  when  I  heard  a  soft  low  wind  come 
sweeping  over  the  sea,  and  it  bore  to  my  ears 
my  daughter's  voice  wailing,  — 

"  '  Who  shall  deliver  me  from  this  captivity?"1 

When  Walter  of  Ilzerley  heard  these  words, 
the  blood  rushed  in  a  mighty  column  to  his  heart, 
and  .his  breath  stopped ;  but  he  was  silent,  and 
the  lady  went  on  :  — 

u  Since  then  two  knights  have  come  to  this 
castle,  and  to  each  have  I  told  my  daughter's 
prayer.  Each  has  ridden  away  on  the  morrow 


MONAR£.  27 


in  search  of  her.  From  that  quest  neither  has 
returned.  But  I  feel  that  to  you,  perhaps,  may 
be  granted  what  has  been  denied  to  the  other 
twain  ;  and  I  implore  you,  Walter  of  Ilzerley, 
by  all  that  you  hold  dear  in  this  world  and  the 
next,  to  hear  a  mother's  prayer,  and  pity  a  moth 
er's  anguish." 

And  so  saying,  the  countess  knelt  before  the 
young  man's  feet,  and  raised  her  clasped  hands, 
beseeching  him. 

Walter  of  Ilzerley  raised  the  lady,  and  swore 
never  to  return  to  Christian  lands  till  he  had 
found  the  maiden,  and  delivered  her  from  the 
captivity  wherein  she  was  bound. 

Then  the  count  grasped  him  by  the  hand, 
and  said,  — 

"Young  knight,  great  as  is  my  debt  to  you,  it 
is  as  nought  to  that  which  it  will  be  when  you 
restore  to  me  my  child.  And  when  she  is  given 
back  to  us,  should  your  eyes  love  to  rest  upon  her, 
we  will  give  her  to  you,  as  your  wife,  and  she  shall 
have  a  dowry  meet  for  a  king's  daughter." 

But  Walter  of  Ilzerley  still  kept  silence  on 
the  voice  that  had  come  to  him  in  the  midnight 
chapel,  for  he  felt  as  if  it  would  be  parting  with 
a  precious  thing,  were  any  save  himself  to  know 
of  it. 

He  thought  of  the  maiden  all  that  night,  nor 


28  ARABESQUES. 


had  he  once  closed  his  eyes  to  sleep,  when  the 
first  red  streaks  of  morning  shone  in  the  eastern 
sky.  But  he  felt  no  fatigue,  so  bent  was  his  mind 
upon  freeing  the  count's  daughter.  He  arose, 
and  put  on  his  armor,  and,  taking  leave  of  the 
count  and  countess,  he  mounted  his  white  horse, 
and  rode  away  ;_  while  all  the  retainers  bade  him 
adieu,  and  shouted,  "  God  speed  you,  brave 
knight,"  as  he  crossed  the  drawbridge,  and  came 
out  upon  the  open  plain. 

The  morning  sun  shone  bright  overhead,  and 
the  little  white  clouds  floated  on  the  soft  blue  of 
the  sky,  like  fairy  vessels  on  a  waveless  sea. 
The  water  danced  and  sparkled  in  the  light,  and 
the  hum  of  the  busy  insects,  as  they  flew  from 
flower  to  flower,  filled  the  air  with  pleasant 
sounds.  The  ruby  light  lay  like  a  crimson  path 
over  the  glittering  water,  and  was  lost  in  the 
distance  of  the  glancing  waves. 

The  knight  reined  up  his  horse  upon  the  yel 
low  beach,  and  looked  around  for  a  boat.  In  a 
little  creek  near  by  he  saw  a  skiff,  which  two 
fishermen  were  dragging  into  the  water. 

"  Friends,  name  your  price,"  said  the  knight, 
"  but  I  must  have  your  boat." 

"  It  is  worth  two  pieces  of  gold  to  us,"  said 
the  fishermen.  The  knight  gave  them  four, 
and,  mounting  into  the  little  boat  with  his  horse, 


MONARE.  29 


he  pushed  off  to  sea,  following  the  crimson 
track. 

A  gentle  wind  drove  forward  the  skiff,  so  that 
the  knight  had  no  need  to  ply  the  oars.  He  sat 
in  the  stern,  his  armor  flashing  back  the  sun 
light  ;  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  distance  where  the 
crimson  light  pointed ;  his  face  full  of  manly 
courage,  yet  soft  with  tender  thought. 

Three  days  and  three  nights  did  he,  with  his 
good  steed,  float  over  the  sea,  borne  on  by  the 
gentle  wind  which  never  varied  nor  died  away  ; 
and,  on  the  morning  of  the  fourth  day,  he  saw 
the  minarets  and  gilded  cupolas  of  a  great  city 
on  the  shore  before  him.  As  he  floated  nearer, 
he  saw  the  accursed  crescent  flashing  from  every 
high  point,  and  he  knew  that  he  had  reached 
the  country  of  the  infidels.  Suddenly  the  ruby 
light  vanished,  and  a  shadow  seemed  to  fall 
upon  him.  He  looked  around.  The  sun  was 
shining  brightly  as  before  ;  but  the  reflection  of 
his  own  figure,  of  his  horse,  and  of  the  boat, 
had  disappeared,  and  he  saw  that  he,  and  all 
that  belonged  to  him,  had  become  invisible. 
The  boat  pressed  forward  till  it  reached  the 
shore  ;  and  Walter  of  Ilzerley,  leaping  from  it, 
knelt  on  the  sands,  and  thanked  Heaven  for  hav 
ing  brought  him  so  far  safely  on  his  way,  and 
implored  its  assistance  in  what  he  had  yet  to 


30  ARABESQUES. 

• 

accomplish  ;  then  mounting  his  horse,  he  turned 
towards  the  bronze  gates  of  the  city. 

As  he  passed  through  the  portal,  a  blind  beg 
gar,  sitting  beside  the  way,  held  out  his  hand 
and  begged  for  alms. 

"  Fool,"  said  a  tall  negro  who  was  lounging 
in  the  sunshine,  "  hold  your  peace.  No  one 
comes  this  way." 

The  blind  man  answered, — 

"  I  know  by  the  measured  trembling  of  the 
ground  that  a  horse  and  rider  are  passing  by." 

But  the  negro  could  see  nothing  ;  and  he  called 
to  his  comrades  that  the  blind  man  had  better 
eyes  than  they,  for  that  he  could  perceive  a  horse 
and  rider  where  there  was  nothing  but  dust  and 
sunshine.  And  they  all  laughed  and  jeered  at 
the  blind  man. 

The  young  knight  left  them  behind,  and  went 
on  through  the  crowded  street  that  lay  before 
him.  It  was  shaded  from  the  heat  of  the  sun 
by  awnings  of  crimson  silk,  which  were  stretched 
across  from  the  tops  of  the  houses ;  and  beneath 
were  endless  rows  of  stalls  filled  with  gorgeous 
silks  and  jewelry  and  spices,  and  merchandise 
of  every  sort.  Veiled  women,  preceded  by 
black  eunuchs,  mingled  with  the  swarthy  and 
turbaned  crowd,  and  shouts  and  cries  and  bar 
gaining  and  chaffering  resounded  on  every  side. 


MONAR&.  31 


Suddenly  a  blast  of  trumpets  was  heard  from 
the  upper  extremity  of  the  street ;  and  every 
sound  was  immediately  silenced,  and  all  the 
people  ranged  themselves  on  either  side,  as  a 
band  of  slaves  dressed  in  green,  with  crooked 
cimeters  shining  in  their  hands,  came  down  the 
way,  preceding  twelve  officers  wearing  enor 
mous  turbans,  mounted  on  black  mules,  and 
bearing  brazen  trumpets.  When  they  reached 
the  centre  of  the  ^street,  they  stopped,  and  the 
officers  sounded  their  trumpets  and  made  procla 
mation,  saying, — 

"  O  people,  listen !  Thus  saith  the  sultan, 
the  master  of  the  earth,  the  ruler  of  the  sea,  and 
the  numberer  of  the  stars  :  — 

"  Know,  O  ye  people  who  are  so  blessed  as 
to  live  in  the  city  which  we  honor  with  our 
presence,  that  some  child  of  unfathomable  per 
dition  hath  stolen  from  our  special  treasury, 
locked  with  a  hundred  keys,  guarded  by  a  hun 
dred  slaves,  entered  through  a  labyrinth  with  a 
hundred  windings,  our  most  precious  possession, 
the  ruby  ring  lost  in  a  wager  to  our  ancestor, 
the  great  King  Solomon,  by  the  King  of  the 
Genii,  and  handed  down  ever  since  that  day,  in 
our  most  glorious  and  excellent  house. 

"  Out  of  our  great  and  wonderful  clemency,  we 
hereby  proclaim  that  although  he  who  has  dared 


32  ARABESQUES. 

to  aspire  to  the  possession  of  this  inestima 
ble  gem  deserves  a  thousand  deaths ;  yet,  let 
him  return  it,  and  he  shall  receive  free  pardon 
for  the  offence,  and  shall  furthermore  be  reward 
ed  with  two  hundred  purses  of  gold." 

Then  the  brazen  trumpets  sounded  again,  and 
the  slaves  and  the  officers  moved  forward,  and 
the  street  became  more  noisy  than  before  ;  for 
all  the  people  were  wondering  and  lamenting 
over  the  loss  from  the  sultan's  treasury,  of  that 
wonderful  ring. 

But  Walter  of  Ilzerley,  as  he  looked  around, 
saw  one  old  woman,  dressed  as  became  the  slave 
of  a  very  rich  person,  who  neither  wondered 
nor  questioned.  She  was  very  pale,  and  shook 
all  over  as  she  asked  the  merchant,  by  whose 
stall  the  knight  had  stopped  his  horse,  whether 
the  blue  vest  embroidered  with  gold  which  her 
mistress  had  ordered  were  finished. 

"  The  vest  is  finished,  and  the  embroidery  is 
the  finest  that  was  ever  seen  in  the  city,"  an 
swered  the  merchant ;  "  but,  know  you,  that 
were  it  not  for  so  illustrious  a  lady  as  an  inmate 
of  the  palace  of  our  exalted  master,  the  sultan, 
I  should  have  said  it  had  been  designed  for  a 
dog  of  a  Christian." 

"  What  do  you  say  ?  "  screamed  the  old  woman, 
in  a  shrill,  quavering  voice. 


MONAR&.  33 


"  Look,  then,"  said  the  merchant,  holding  up 
the  vest :  "  is  not  here  on  the  breast,  hidden 
under  the  waving  lines  of  the  ornaments,  the 
outline  of  the  unclean  cross?"  And  he  spat 
on  the  ground  in  sign  of  abhorrence.  "  If  the 
lady  see  it,  she  will  never  wear  the  vest,  although 
she  sent  the  pattern  herself." 

The  old  woman  said  nothing,  but  paid  the 
merchant  three  pieces  of  gold,  and,  taking  the 
vest,  made  her  way  along  the  street  as  fast  as 
she  could. 

The  young  knight  followed  her ;  but,  although 
he  took  great  pains  not  to  press  against  any  one, 
the  crowd  was  so  great  that  he  constantly  pushed 
those  on  the  right  and  on  the  left ;  and  they, 
not  seeing  the  invisible  horse  and  rider,  felt 
greatly  aggrieved,  and  angrily  berated  those 
nearest  them,  who,  knowing  themselves  inno 
cent  of  any  discourtesy,  were  not  slack  in  angry 
retort :  and  so  it  happened  that  the  whole  street 
fell  into  confusion,  and  threats  and  blows 
were  exchanged  on  every  side ;  and  so  great 
grew  the  tumult,  that  the  merchants  rose  in 
haste  and  closed  their  shops  and  withdrew 
the  awnings,  and  the  rays  of  the  sun  poured 
down  so  fiercely  that  it  was  like  a  fiery  rain  ; 
and  so  the  crowd  dispersed  to  seek  shelter  else 
where  ;  while  Walter  of  Ilzerley  followed  the 
3 


34  ARABESQUES. 

old  woman  as  she  passed  through  many  long 
and  winding  streets.  At  length  she  halted  at 
a  door  in  a  high  stone  wall.  It  was  the  only 
opening  in  the  face  of  the  wall,  which  was  of 
great  extent. 

The  old  woman  knocked  three  times ;  and  the 
door  was  opened  by  a  frightfully  ugly  slave, 
whose  eyes  stood  out  so  far  that  he  looked  as  if 
he  could  see  all  around  him  without  turning  his 
head.  Walter  of  Ilzerley  sprang  from  his  horse, 
and  followed  the  old  woman  as  she  entered ; 
but,  although  he  made  all  the  haste  he  could,  he 
did  not  succeed  in  passing  the  door  ere  the 
frightful  slave  closed  it,  and  the  young  knight 
was  caught  between  the  door  and  the  door 
post. 

The  slave  wondered  and  pushed  in  vain,  for 
the, door  could  not  close-,  of  course,  since  there 
was  a  knight  clothed  in  armor  in  the  way.  At 
last  the  slave  opened  widely  the  door  in  order  to 
push  it  to  with  greater  force,  and  so  released  the 
young  man,  who  immediately  sprang  forward  ; 
but  the  old  woman  had  disappeared  through  one 
of  the  many  doors  which  opened  into  the  circu 
lar  hall  in  which  he  found  himself. 

He  had  no  clew  to  guide  him  in  his  search,  so 
he  opened  at  random  the  door  nearest  him.  He 
saw  before  him  a  long,  dark,  and  narrow  pas- 


MONARE.  35 


sage,  at  the  end  of  which  faintly  glimmered  an 
uncertain  light.  He  advanced  towards  the  ray, 
which  proceeded  from  the  key-hole  of  a  heavy 
door,  thickly  studded  with  iron  nails.  A  faint 
odor  of  gums  and  spices  came  to  his  nostrils ; 
but  he  could  see  nothing  within  save  by  stoop 
ing  to  look  through  the  key-hole,  and  to  that  no 
knight  could  condescend.  So  he  drew  his  sword 
from  its  scabbard,  and  with  its  hilt  knocked 
loudly  at  the  door.  After  a  short  delay  it  was 
opened,  and  the  head  of  an  old  man  clothed, 
although  it  was  summer,  in  a  furred  robe,  ap 
peared.  His  wrinkled  forehead  was  high  and 
broad  ;  his  beard  was  as  white  as  snow  ;  but  his 
eyebrows  were  black  and  heavy,  and  from  be 
neath  their  shade  his  small,  keen  eyes  looked 
piercingly  forth.  As  he  cautiously  opened  the 
door  the  young  knight  passed  within. 

The  old  man  peered  down  the  passage,  then 
muttering  to  himself,  again  closed  the  door. 
The  room,  or  rather  vault,  into  which  the  young 
knight  had  penetrated  was  vast  and  gloomy. 
The  walls  were  of  stone  whereon  were  deeply 
graven  strange  devices  and  symbols,  mixed  with 
Chaldean  characters  and  Coptic  signs.  In  the 
middle  of  the  vaulted  ceiling  was  a  small,  round 
aperture,  through  which,  looking  up  as  through 
a  black  tube  of  great  length,  the  stars  could  be 


36  ARABESQUES. 


seen  at  mid-day.  The  air  was  heavy  with  strange 
perfumes,  which  seemed  to  proceed  from  a 
bronze  tripod,  upon  which  was  burning  a  fire 
whose  flickering  and  uncertain  flames  supplied 
its  only  light  to  the  vault. 

The  old  man,  still  muttering  to  himself,  re 
sumed  the  occupation  which  the  knight's  sum 
mons  had  interrupted.  He  took  some  spices 
and  some  fine  powder  of  charcoal,  and  made 
a  paste,  which  he  moulded  into  the  form  of 
a  ring,  over  which  he  made  various  signs,  turn 
ing  it  constantly,  and  ever  and  anon  turning  it 
to  the  four  points  of  the  compass.  Then  he 
dropped  it  into  the  middle  of  the  fire.  Immedi 
ately  a  bright  flame  sprang  up,  and,  detaching 
itself  from  the  fire  below,  remained  in  the  shape 
of  a  fiery  cross,  suspended  in  the  air.  When 
the  old  man  saw  this,  he  gnashed  his  teeth  and 
stamped  on  the  ground. 

"What  accursed  mystery  is  this?"  he  ex 
claimed.  "  Three  times  am  I  foiled.  And 
what  shall  I  say  to  the  sultan  when  he  demands 
what  I  have  discovered?  The  ring  is  without  a 
doubt  in  Christian  hands  ;  but  how  it  came  there, 
it  passes  my  science  to  discover." 

As  he  said  this,  the  magic  flame  paled  and 
died  away  ;  and,  the  fire  on  the  tripod  likewise 
sinking,  the  vault  became  dark.  The  old  man 


M  ON  ARE.  37 


lighted  a  tall,  green  taper  at  the  decaying  blaze, 
and  placed  it  upon  a  table  whereon  lay  a  large, 
black-covered  book,  which  he  began  attentively 
to  study.  Walter  of  Ilzerley  approached,  and 
looked  over  the  old  man's  shoulder  as  he  bent 
over  the  book,  and  he  saw  there  written  the 
exact  description  of  the  ring,  and  an  explanation 
of  its  virtues.  There  he  learnt  that  the  ring  had 
the  power,  on  the  approach  of  danger,  of  render 
ing  its  possessor  invisible,  and  knew  why  he 
had  become  lost  to  mortal  sight  from  the  mo 
ment  he  approached  the  shore  of  the  infidels. 
He  was  reading  with  avidity  the  account  of  all 
the  properties  of  the  ring  which  had  so  mysteri 
ously  been  bestowed  upon  him,  when  a  loud 
knock  was  heard  at  the  iron-studded  door.  The 
old  man  reluctantly  arose  and  opened  it ;  and 
a  slave,  richly  dressed,  entered  with  a  concerned 
air,  and,  glancing  uneasily  around,  knelt,  and, 
bending  his  forehead  till  it  almost  touched  the 
ground,  said,  — 

"  O  most  powerful  and  mighty  sage !  the 
sultan,  our  master,  desires  your  presence  forth 
with." 

The  old  man,  supporting  his  steps  with  an 
ivory  cane  carved  with  strange  devices,  followed 
the  messenger,  who  seemed  in  a  great  hurry  to 
get  out  of  the  vault.  Walter  of  Ilzerley  accom- 


38  ARABESQUES. 

panied  them  through  numberless  passages  and 
halls,  until  they  came  to  a  large  room,  filled 
with  richly  attired  officers  and  slaves,  who  all 
drew  aside  respectfully  as  the  old  man  passed. 
At  the  extremity  of  the  room  was  a  curtain  of 
green  brocade,  before  which  stood  ten  gigantic 
slaves  clothed  in  yellow,  and  holding  naked 
cimeters  in  their  hands.  They  made  way  as 
the  old  man  advanced ;  and  the  slave  who  had 
summoned  him  drew  aside  the  curtain,  and  held 
it  up  for  him  to  enter.  The  knight  followed 
close. 

As  he  crossed  the  threshold,  he  found  himself 
in  a  spacious  and  lofty  apartment  lighted  with 
many-colored  rays.  The  ceiling  was  painted  to 
imitate  the  overhanging  branches  and  green 
leaves  of  a  forest,  and  birds  of  gorgeous  plu 
mage  swung  from  it  in  cages  of  golden  wire. 
Their  songs  mixed  with  the  tinkling  of  a  fountain 
which  rose  from  a  crystal  tank  in  the  middle  of 
the  room,  around  which  grew  flowers  in  rich 
abundance.  Along  the  walls,  which  were  of 
cedar  inlaid  with  gold,  were  divans  and  cushions 
of  embroidered  damask  fringed  with  pearl ; 
and  on  the  marble  floor  were  spread  carpets  so 
soft  that  the  footsteps  falling  on  them  gave  back 
no  sound. 

On  the  divan  at  the  upper  end  of  the  room  sat 


MONARE.  39 


a  young  man  magnificently  dressed.  He  was 
handsome,  though  very  haughty  in  face  and 
bearing. 

The  old  man  knelt  and  touched  his  forehead 
three  times  to  the  ground  as  the  curtain  fell 
behind  him. 

"  Approach,  O  most  venerable  sage  ! "  said 
the  sultan,  "  and  say  how  your  search  has  sped. 
Have  you  found  a  clew  by  which  to  track  the 
audacious  criminal  who  has  dared  to  violate 
the  sanctity  of  our  private  treasury,  and  to  steal 
from  it  the  ring?  " 

The  sultan  knit  the  black  arches  of  his  brows 
till  they  met,  and  his  moustaches  quivered  as  he 
spoke. 

"  O  most  glorious  and  gracious  of  sultans ! " 
answered  the  old  man  ;  u  something  truly  have  I 
discovered,  though  less  than  I  had  hoped.  But 
that  which  I  have  learned  makes  the  loss  of  the 
ring  more  unaccountable  than  before.  I  know 
to  a  surety  that  the  gem  is  at  this  moment  in 
Christian  hands." 

The  sultan  started  to  his  feet. 

"  In  the  hands  of  a  dog  of  a  Christian !  "  he 
exclaimed.  "  May  he  and  his  prophet  perish 
together." 

At  these  impious  and  insulting  words,  Walter 
of  Ilzerley  lost  patience,  and,  drawing  hastily 


40  ARABESQUES. 

near,  he  smote  the  sultan  on  the  face.  The 
blow  was  well  planted,  and  it  tingled  sharply  on 
the  sultan's  olive  cheek. 

"  What  demon,  miserable  old  man,  have  you 
dared  to  bring  hither  with  you?"  he  shouted  in 
a  rage,  laying  his  hand  on  the  dagger  in  his 
sash.  "  If  you  were  less  useful,  your  head 
should  within  five  minutes  make  acquaintance 
with  the  bowstring.  Begone !  and  know  that 
unless,  ere  three  days  be  over,  I  see  again  the 
ring,  I  will  forget  all  your  past  services,  and  only 
remember  this  unheard-of  affront." 

So  saying,  the  sultan,  foaming  with  rage, 
clapped  his  hands  together.  The  curtain  was 
withdrawn,  and  the  old  man,  half  terrified  to 
death,  retreated  in  haste. 

The  sage  had  hardly  left  the  room  when  the 
curtain  was  again  lifted,  and  an  officer,  apparently 
of  high  rank,  entered  and  prostrated  himself  as 
the  old  man  had  done. 

"  What  news  do  you  bring,  Mustapha?"  said 
the  sultan.  "  Dare  not  to  say  that  your  quest  has 
been  unsuccessful." 

"Most  illustrious  of  sovereigns,"  replied  the 
officer,  u  this  is  what  I  have  discovered.  On  the 
night  before  the  ring  was  found  to  be  lost,  some 
fishermen  out  at  sea  saw,  in  the  air  overhead,  a 
bright  stream  of  rosy  light,  which  flashed  from 


MONARE.  41 


the  direction  of  the  city  towards  the  country  of 
the  Christians.  The  night  was  dark,  but  so 
bright  was  the  passing  radiance  that  it  streamed 
like  a  ruddy  pathway  over  the  water,  and  lighted 
up  all  the  sea.  Further  than  this,  O  most  mer 
ciful  of  masters  !  your  slave  has  not  been  able  to 
trace  the  ring." 

The  sultan  made  no  answer,  but  sat  deep  in 
thought  for  a  while,  twisting  his  long,  curling 
moustache  and  looking  on  the  ground.  Then 
he  made  a  sign  to  the  officer  to  withdraw. 

The  sultan  clapped  his  hands  together  as  the 
officer  retired,  and  a  slave  entered  and  prostrated 
himself. 

u  Let  the  great  council  be  summoned,"  said 
the  sultan  ;  and  the  slave  withdrew. 

After  a  few  moments  the  green  curtain  was 
widely  withdrawn,  and  a  procession  of  very  old 
men  entered.  They  all  wore  green  turbans,  and 
their  white  robes  were  girded  about  them  by 
costly  shawls.  After  the  due  prostrations,  at  a 
sign  from  the  sultan  they  seated  themselves 
cross-legged,  folded  their  arms  over  their  breasts, 
and  waited  for  him  to  speak. 

"  It  is  known  to  you,"  said  the  sultan,  "  that 
our  inestimable  ruby  ring  has  been  audaciously 
stolen  from  our  especial  and  private  treasury." 

Here  all  the  old  men  bowed  their  heads. 


42  ARABESQUES. 

"  I  know,  from  certain  information,  that  it  has 
passed  into  the  unclean  hands  of  a  Christian." 

Here  all  the  old  men  spat  on  the  ground,  in 
sign  of  contempt  and  abhorrence. 

"  Furthermore,  I  have  learnt  that  it  is  at  this 
moment  in  the  country  of  the  Christians ;  and  I 
have  summoned  you,  to  communicate  to  you  my 
sovereign  will  and  pleasure  that  an  embassy  be 
immediately  despatched  to  the  king  of  the  Chris 
tians,  demanding  the  instant  return  of  the  ring, 
and  announcing  that,  should  it  be  refused,  I  will 
ravage  his  country  with  fire  and  sword,  and  will 
destroy  every  city  and  walled  town  within  its 
borders." 

When  the  great  councillors  had  heard  the  sul 
tan,  they  all  replied  in  chorus,  — 

"  O  most  powerful  and  illustrious  sultan !  to 
hear  is  to  obey." 

And  they  left  the  room  in  the  same  order 
wherewith  they  had  entered  it;  and  Walter  of 
Ilzerley  joined  their  procession,  and  passed  out 
with  them. 

The  exterior  hall  looked  out  upon  a  large  and 
shaded  garden.  Between  the  trees  were  seen 
light  kiosks,  whose  trellised  walls  were  wreathed 
with  roses  and  jasmine ;  and  from  the  velvet 
lawns  rose  numberless  sparkling  fountains,  cool 
ing  the  sultry  air  with  their  incessant  rain. 


MONARE.  43 


Unknowing  in  what  direction  to  turn  in  order 
to  seek  for  the  old  woman  who  had  bought  the 
vest  embroidered  with  the  Christian  cross,  sadly 
perplexed  at  the  labyrinth  of  halls  and  passages 
which  filled  the  sultan's  palace,  the  young  knight 
passed  out  through  an  open  door  into  the  garden, 
and,  plunging  into  one  of  the  thickets  of  flower 
ing  shrubs,  threw  himself  down  upon  the  ground 
to  consider  what  he  was  next  to  do. 

He  had  not  yet  succeeded  in  arriving  at  any  def 
inite  conclusion,  when  he  heard  footsteps  coming 
up  the  broad  walk  which  led  close  by  him.  He 
raised  his  head,'  and  saw  a  hunchbacked  old 
Egyptian  female  dwarf,  whose  contorted  ugli 
ness  seemed  insufferably  hideous,  seen  as  it  was 
amidst  the  graceful  flowers  and  silver  fountains, 
and  light  and  glory  of  the  garden.  The  dwarf 
advanced  till  she  was  close  to  him  ;  then  she 
stopped,  and  said, — 

"  Follow  me." 

Walter  of  Ilzerley  started  to  his  feet,  thinking 
that  the  ring  had  lost  its  power  of  concealing 
him  ;  but,  as  he  stood  upright  in  the  sunshine, 
he  saw  that  his  figure  cast  no  shadow  upon  the 
ground,  and  then  he  perceived  that  the  dwarf 
must  be  a  sorceress. 

He  came  from  the  thicket  and  followed  her 
through  the  garden,  until,  turning  into  a  lonely 


44  ARABESQUES. 

and  scarcely  trodden  path,  she  stopped  at  a  small, 
carved  door.  She  opened  it  by  pressing  upon  a 
spring  hidden  under  one  of  its  ornaments,  and 
passed  within,  followed  by  the  knight.  She 
ascended  a  narrow  and  winding  staircase,  and 
paused  at  a  door  at  which  she  tapped.  As  the 
door  opened,  the  dwarf  turned  her  head  and 
beckoned  to  the  invisible  knight.  The  door  was 
opened  by  the  old  woman  whom  he  had  seen 
that  morning  bargaining  for  the  vest.  The  young 
man's  heart  leaped  for  joy  as  he  saw  her ;  and 
with  eager  steps  he  passed  into  the  room,  for  he 
felt  assured  that  he  should  find  there  the  maiden 
he  sought. 

The  room  was  small,  but  richly  decorated  and 
furnished  in  the  Oriental  style,  with  painted 
arabesques,  and  the  ceiling  was  carved  with 
curious  workmanship  ;  but  the  knight  saw  noth 
ing  save  the  figure  of  a  maiden,  who  was  whis 
pering  to  herself  as  he  entered,  — 

u  Who  shall  deliver  me  from  this  captivity?" 
Seated  beside  an  open  window,  which  looked 
forth  upon  the  sea,  and  leaning  her  cheek  upon 
her  hand,  she  was  steadfastly  gazing  upon  the 
glittering  expanse  of  the  water.  She  wore  a 
blue  vest  embroidered  with  gold,  which  half 
betrayed,  half  concealed  the  graceful  outlines 
of  her  figure  ;  her  head  was  covered  on  one  side 


MONARE.  45 


by  a  little  embroidered  cap,  and  on  the  other 
was  placed  a  bouquet  of  jewelled  flowers  ;  while 
her  long,  soft,  brown  hair,  unconfmed,  fell  in 
heavy  waves  almost  to  the  ground.  On  her 
white  arms  were  clasped  golden  bracelets ;  and 
her  little,  rosy  feet  were  thrust  into  crimson 
slippers  embroidered  with  gold. 

The  knight  had  never  seen  any  loveliness  to 
be  compared  with  that  of  the  maiden ;  and  he 
stood  in  a  trance  of  wonder  and  admiration, 
gazing  upon  her  as  though  he  would  never 
weary. 

After  a  while  the  maiden  turned  from  looking 
over  the  water  and  spoke  in  a  sorrowful  tone  to 
the  dwarf. 

"  Good  mother,  four  days  and  four  nights 
have  I  watched  the  waves ;  and  yet  I  can  see  no 
knight  coming  to  my  rescue." 

And  she  sighed,  and,  turning  her  head,  again 
fixed  her  eyes  upon  the  sea. 

"  I  can't  help  that,"  answered  the  dwarf, 
shortly.  "  Some  people  see  things  where  there 
is  nothing  to  be  seen,  and  others  see  nothing 
where  there  is  something  to  be  seen.  I  don't 
make  people's  eyes." 

And  the  dwarf  sat  down  on  a  pile  of  cushions, 
and  sulked. 

The  maiden  answered  nothing,  and  did  not 


46  ARABESQUES. 


seem  to  hear  the  cracked  and  dissonant  tones 
of  the  Egyptian ;  but  the  old  woman  who  had 
opened  the  door  rolled  up  her  eyes  and  groaned, 
as  if  to  express  her  disapprobation,  though  she 
evidently  did  not  dare  to  speak. 

As  if  weary  of  watching,  the  maiden  left  the 
casement,  and,  crossing  the  room,  seated  herself 
on  the  pile  of  cushions  beside  the  dwarf.  She 
took  the  old  Egyptian's  brown  and  wrinkled 
hand  in  her  soft,  white  fingers,  and  said  coax- 
ingly,  — 

"  But  tell  me  one  thing,  good  mother :  how 
did  you  obtain  for  me  the  ruby  ring?  Tell  me 
only  that." 

"  Don't  tease  me,"  said  the  dwarf.  "  You 
would  be  sorry  enough  if  I  did  tell  you.  The 
words  I  should  be  obliged  to  speak  would 
shatter  the  walls,  and  bring  a  host  of  demons 
about  us." 

At  these  words  the  old  woman  whom  the 
young  knight  had  seen  in  the  street,  clasped  her 
hands,  and  implored  the  maiden  not  to  persist  in 
her  entreaties. 

u  For,"  said  she,  "  know,  my  blessed  lady, 
that  I  can  scarcely  sleep  at  nights  as  it  is,  know 
ing  as  I  do  that  Monare  could  have  us  all 
strangled  by  demons  ere  morning,  if  she  chose. 
And,  if  I  were  once  to  see  a  demon,  I  should  die 


47 


of  fright  outright,  as,  indeed,  it  is  a  wonder  that 
I  did  not  that  day  the  pirates  carried  us  away. 
But  of  that  you  knew  nothing,  sweet,  uncon 
scious  babe  that  you  were." 

And  the  old  woman  began  to  weep. 

"  Don't  prate  so,"  said  the  dwarf,  crossly. 
"  Isn't  it  bad  enough  to  be  stolen  by  pirates 
without  being  told  of  it  all  the  time?  Don't  be 
such  a  croaking  night-owl.  I  wonder,  for  my 
part,  why  the  pirates  took  you.  You  never 
could  have  had  any  good  looks  to  boast  of." 

The  old  woman,  forgetting  for  the  moment 
her  fears,  was  about  to  make  an  angry  retort, 
when  the  maiden  interfered  and  with  gentle 
words  composed  the  menaced  quarrel ;  then, 
kissing  tenderly  the  frightful  Egyptian  dwarf, 
she  said,  — 

"  Good  mother,  how  can  I  thank  you  for  all 
that  you  have  done  for  me?  If  I  obtain  my 
freedom,  I  will  show  you  what  my  gratitude  is 
worth." 

"  Don't  talk  to  me  of  gratitude,"  interrupted 
the  dwarf.  "  I  want  to  know  if  I  haven't  cause 
of  gratitude  to  you.  Who  was  it  that  saved  me 
from  those  Mussulman  hounds  in  the  bazaar 
who  were  going  to  tear  me  in  pieces  for  a  witch, 
only  because  I  shortened  the  leg  of  one  who  was 
going  to  kick  me,  so  that  he  couldn't  put  it  down 


ARABESQUES. 


again?  Don't  talk  to  me  of  gratitude  !  It  makes 
me  cross." 

But  the  maiden  took  no  heed  of  the  dwarfs 
perversity.  She  kept  her  seat  by  her,  and  ca 
ressed  her  cheek  with  her  white  hand. 

"  Well,  good  mother,"  she  said,  "  since  you 
will  not  tell  me  how  you  obtained  the  ring,  tell 
me  at  least  to  whom  it  was  that  I  sent  it  with 
my  nightly  prayer." 

"  A  good  knight  and  a  true,"  answered  the 
dwarf  abruptly. 

Walter  of  Ilzerley,  at  these  words,  could  have 
fallen  at  the  dwarf's  feet  and  embraced  her 
knees  for  very  thankfulness,  so  great  was  his 
desire  to  stand  well  in  the  esteem  of  the  beauti 
ful,  imprisoned  maiden. 

"A  good  knight  and  a  true,"  repeated  the 
maiden  thoughtfully.  "  But,  good  mother,  tell 
me  something  more.  Is  he  young?  Is  he  fair 
to  look  upon  ?  " 

But  the  dwarf  would  not  answer  a  word  to 
the  maiden's  questions,  and  only  reiterated,  — 

"  A  good  knight  and  a  true." 

Suddenly  the  maiden  sprang  to  her  feet  and 
stood  in  the  attitude  of  one  listening ;  and  the 
knight  perceived  the  sound  of  many  feet,  and 
the  clashing  of  arms  from  the  garden  beneath. 
He  looked  from  a  window  that  opened  over  the 


MONAR&.  49 


garden,  and  saw  the  old  sage  advancing  at  the 
head  of  a  body  of  armed  slaves.  In  his  hand 
the  old  man  carried  a  small,  purple  snake, 
which,  hissing,  stretched  out  its  head  in  the 
direction  of  the  little  carved  door.  The  old 
man  entered,  followed  by  the  slaves,  and  they 
heard  the  noise  of  many  ascending  steps.  The 
maiden  stood  pale  and  still  in  the  middle  of  the 
room,  while  the  old  nurse  crept  trembling  into 
a  corner,  and  the  dwarf  clenched  her  teeth  and 
stamped  on  the  floor. 

The  door  was  wrenched  open  from  without, 
and  the  old  man  appeared  on  the  threshold. 
Behind  him  stood  the  slaves,  filling  the  entry, 
and  crowding  on  the  stairs.  The  little  purple 
snake  in  the  sage's  hand  raised  the  crest  upon 
its  head,  and  hissed  loudly  and  angrily,  turning 
towards  the  window  where  the  knight  was 
standing. 

As  the  dwarf  caught  sight  of  the  snake,  her 
look  of  rage  and  perplexity  changed  into  an 
expression  of  triumph.  She  crept  behind  the 
maiden,  whose  flowing  robe  concealed  her  from 
view,  and,  crossing  her  hands  behind  her,  she 
mumbled  a  few  unknown  words. 

As  she  spoke  them,  the  little  snake  writhed 
violently ;  then,  springing  from  the  old  man's 
hand,  it  darted  to  the  window,  and  disappeared. 
4 


50  ARABESQUES. 

The  old  man  tore  his  hair. 

"  Ten  purses  of  gold  to  whoever  catches  the 
snake  !  "  he  shouted.  And  he  and  all  the  armed 
slaves  rushed  down  the  stairs  in  pursuit  of  the 
little  purple  snake  ;  and  the  sound  of  their  voices 
and  trampling  steps  died  away. 

The  old  nurse,  shaking  and  trembling,  crawled 
forward  and  closed  the  door ;  while  the  hideous 
Egyptian  dwarf  threw  herself  on  the  floor,  and 
rolled  her  head  about  in  an  ecstasy  of  delight. 

"  Oh,  what  a  fool,  what  a  world-renowned 
fool,  is  that  sage !  Call  him  a  sage,  indeed ! 
Why,  if  I  were  to  pull  out  an  eyelash,  that  eye 
lash  would  have  more  knowledge  in  it  than  he 
has  in  his  whole  body.  I  want  to  know  if  he 
ever  lived,  like  me,  in  the  secret  chambers  of 
the  great  Pyramid,  where  the  books  of  my  ances 
tors,  the  Egyptian  priests,  are  stored?  What 
does  he  know,  the  bungler !  He  didn't  even 
know  who  I  was.  And  to  bring  that  absurd 
little  snake  here  where  I  am  !  Ha,  ha,  ha  ! " 

And  the  dwarf  rolled  about  and  shrieked  with 
laughter,  while  the  old  nurse  looked  at  her 
aghast,  and  ever  and  anon  crossed  herself;  and 
the  maiden  stood  pressing  her  hand  against  her 
heart,  as  if  to  still  its  frightened  beatings ;  for, 
at  the  appearance  of  the  armed  slaves,  she  had 
anticipated  nothing  less  than  instant  death. 


M  ON  ARE.  51 


At  length  the  dwarf's  laughter  came,  as  all 
things  will,  to  an  end. 

"  Do  stop  crossing  yourself,"  she  said  peev 
ishly  to  the  old  nurse.  "  Can't  any  one  have  a 
little  quiet  merriment,  but  you  must  put  on  a 
long  face,  and  scratch  crosses  all  over  yourself?" 

And  she  turned  her  back  upon  the  old  woman, 
and,  approaching  the  trembling  maiden,  took 
hold  of  her  hand,  and  drew  her  to  a  divan. 

"  Sit  down,  my  pearl,  my  white  dove,"  she 
said  caressingly.  u  Don't  shiver  so.  Do  you 
think  your  old  Monare  would  let  any  one  hurt 
you  ?  I  will  make  that  old  fool  repent  of  having 
frightened  my  child." 

And  she  began  to  mutter  some  strange  words. 
But  the  maiden  laid  her  hand  upon  the  Egyp 
tian's  mouth,  and  prayed  her  not  to  harm  the 
sage. 

"  You'll  make  me  forget  all  the  curses  I  ever 
learned,"  said  the  dwarf,  sulkily ;  "  but  if  you 
don't  want  him  hurt,  it's  all  the  same  to  me." 

The  maiden  rose,  and  looked  out  anew  upon 
the  waves. 

"  Good  mother,  I  can  see  nothing,"  she  said. 
"When  will  he  come?" 

"  That's  a  reasonable  question,"  replied  the 
dwarf,  "  seeing  that  he  has  been  in  the  room  for 
half  an  hour." 


52  ARABESQUES. 

The  blood  rushed  crimson  into  the  maiden's 
cheeks  as  she  glanced  around. 

u  There's  no  use  in  looking  for  him,"  said  the 
dwarf.  "  You  can't  see  him,  but  I  can.  Young 
knight,  don't  stand  there  like  a  stone,  with  your 
eyes  as  wide  open  as  if  you  were  trying  to 
eat  her  with  them.  Come  here  and  kiss  her 
hand." 

But  the  young  knight  did  not  dare  to  advance 
towards  the  beautiful  maiden  ;  and  she,  on  her 
side,  drooped  her  head,  and  turned  shyly  away 
from  that  part  of  the  room  to  which  the  dwarf 
directed  her  eyes. 

"  I  never  saw  such  tiresome  people,"  said  the 
dwarf,  in  a  pet.  "  There's  this  young  knight,  as 
handsome  as  he  can  be,  if  you  could  only  see 
him,  come  over  the  sea  three  days  and  three 
nights  from  the  country  of  the  Christians,  be 
cause  you  called  him  ;  and  now  that  he  is  here, 
you  turn  away  and  won't  hold  out  your  hand, 
and  he  is  afraid  to  come  and  take  it.  I  am 
angry.  Hold  out  your  hand ;  and  you,  Sir 
Knight,  come  forward." 

When  the  maiden  heard  herself  thus  rebuked, 
she  held  out  her  hand,  blushing  all  over  like  the 
sky  at  sunrise  ;  and  Walter  of  Ilzerley,  advancing, 
fell  on  his  knees  and  raised  it  to  his  lips.  As 
she  felt  the  invisible  lips  pressed  upon  her  hand, 


MONARE.  53 


the  maiden  uttered  a  little  cry,  and  drew  close  to 
the  dwarfs  side. 

"  Don't  be  frightened,"  said  the  dwarf.  "  You 
know  that  you  have  been  looking  out  of  the 
window  four  days  and  four  nights,  hoping  to  see 
him." 

At  this  the  maiden  blushed  more  deeply  than 
before,  and  looked  imploringly  at  the  Egyptian. 

"  Well,  well,"  said  the  dwarf,  "  I  didn't  say 
any  thing,  did  I?  But  I  must  tell  now  this 
young  knight  what  he  has  to  do." 

So  saying,  she  turned  to  Walter  of  Ilzerley. 

"  As  soon  as  it  is  dark  the  guards  will  make 
their  rounds.  When  they  appear  you  must 
attack  them." 

The  maiden,  hearing  this,  exclaimed,  — 

"  O  good  mother !  surely  you  do  not  wish 
the  knight  to  fight  single-handed  against  six  !  " 

Walter  of  Ilzerley  would  have  assured  her 
that  he  was  willing  to  fight  single-handed 
against  sixty,  for  her  sake  ;  but  the  same  charm 
that  rendered  him  invisible  deprived  him  of  the 
power  of  speech.  He  could  but  clench  the 
handle  of  his  sword  and  wish  for  the^homent 
that  should  prove  how  little  he  valued  danger  in 
her  cause. 

He  had  not  long  to  wait,  for  the  night  was 
fast  coming  on.  It  was  no  sooner  dark  than 


54  ARABESQUES. 

heavy  steps  were  heard  ascending  the  stairs  ;  the 
door  was  thrown  open,  and  showed  the  chief  of 
the  guard  and  his  armed  soldiers,  each  holding 
a  lighted  torch  in  one  hand  and  a  naked  cimeter 
in  the  other.  They  gloomily  looked  around 
the  room  to  assure  themselves  of  the  presence 
of  all  its  inmates.  At  that  instant  Walter  of 
Ilzerley  threw  from  him  the  ring,  and  stood  in 
shining  armor  and  with  flashing  eyes  before 
their  astonished  sight.  They  raised  their  cim- 
eters  and  rushed  upon  him,  but  he  sprang  to 
meet  them  with  uplifted  sword.  The  quiet 
little  room  was  filled  with  the  clashing  of  weap 
ons  and  the  fierce  cries  of  the  guards ;  but  the 
fray  did  not  last  long.  One  after  another  fell 
under  the  heavy  blows  of  the  Christian  knight, 
until  all  six  lay  stretched  upon  the  ground. 

"  That  is  well  done,"  said  the  dwarf,  who  had 
watched  the  combat  with  great  delight,  clapping 
her  hands  and  screaming  with  laughter  as  each 
successive  guard  fell  to  the  ground ;  while  the 
maiden  had  thrown  herself  upon  her  knees,  and, 
burying  her  face  in  her  hands,  was  praying  ear 
nestly  ;  and  the  old  nurse  had  crept  under  a  pile 
of  cushions,  where  nothing  was  visible  of  her 
save  her  feet. 

"  Now,"  said  the  dwarf,  "  take  from  the  sash  of 
the  chief  of  the  guard  the  key  which  you  will 


MONAR&.  55 


find  there.  It  opens  every  lock  in  the  palace. 
With  that  we  can  let  ourselves  out." 

The  knight  took  the  key  from  the  sash  of  the 
chief  of  the  guard,  as  the  dwarf  had  directed  ; 
then  taking  up  the  ruby  ring,  he  offered  it  to  the 
maiden. 

"  Do  as  I  bid  you,"  said  the  dwarf,  "  and  put 
it  on  your  hand  again." 

The  knight  would  have  expostulated,  but  the 
Egyptian  grew  angry,  and  stretched  her  hand 
towards  him,  making  a  sign.  Immediately  the 
ruby  ring  slid  up  his  finger,  and  he  again  became 
invisible.  He  tried  to  remove  it,  but  it  remained 
fast,  and  he  had  nothing  to  do  but  to  submit. 

Led  by  the  dwarf,  they  descended  the  stairs, 
and  crept  stealthily  along  the  garden.  As  they 
came  near  the  guard-room,  they  heard  the 
soldiers  wondering  why  their  chief  did  not 
return. 

"  I  always  thought  harm  would  happen  to 
some  of  us,"  said  one  of  the  soldiers,  "  ever 
since  that  Egyptian  hag  came  into  the  palace. 
Let  us  go  and  look  for  them  ;  for  it  grows  late, 
and  they  should  have  been  back  long  ago." 

And,  leaving  the  guard-room,  all  the  soldiers 
came  in  a  body  into  the  garden,  and  spread 
themselves  through  it,  searching  for  their  com 
rades.  The  maiden  and  her  attendants  had 


ARABESQUES. 


crouched  clown  in  a  thick  clump  of  rose-bushes, 
which  grew  so  high  and  broad  as  to  quite  con 
ceal  them.  They  remained  there,  until,  at  a  loud 
shout,  which  proceeded  from  that  part  of  the 
garden  on  which  the  little  carved  door  opened, 
all  the  soldiers  rushed  thither,  and  they  heard 
their  cries  of  rage  and  astonishment.  Then, 
quickly  rising  from  their  hiding-place,  the 
maiden  and  the  women  hurried  on,  accompa 
nied  by  the  invisible  knight.  They  passed  into 
the  deserted  guard-room,  and  thence  through 
many  passages,  until  they  reached  the  circular 
hall  into  which  the  knight  had  come  on  his  first 
entrance  into  the  palace. 

"  Stop  here,"  said  the  Egyptian.  "  I  must  go 
forward  and  see  whether  the  slave  at  the  door  is 
awake." 

She  stole  cautiously  forward,  and  saw  the 
slave  sitting  cross-legged  on  the  ground,  his 
great  eyes  shining  in  the  dark  passage  like  two 
enormous  opals.  She  came  back  grinning. 

"  Now  I  will  show  you  something  amusing," 
she  said ;  and  she  began  to  draw  with  her 
finger  in  the  air  the  outline  of  a  gigantic  lion. 
When  she  had  finished,  she  blew  on  the  air- 
drawn  figure,  and  it  took  the  form  and  color  of 
life,  and  bounded  forward  with  open  jaws  and 
fiery  eyes  in  great  leaps  towards  the  negro, 


M  ON  A  RE.  57 


who,  seeing  this  unexpected  sight,  yelled,  and 
took  to  flight,  rolling  with  incredible  agility 
over  and  over  on  the  floor  like  a  ball. 

The  Egyptian  shrieked  with  laughter,  as  the 
slave,  pursued  by  the  phantom  of  a  lion,  disap 
peared.  Then  leading  forward  her  companions, 
she  unlocked  the  little  door,  and  they  all  stood 
outside  the  palace,  in  the  street.  The  knight 
lifted  the  maiden  upon  his  invisible  horse,  and, 
leading  it  by  the  bridle,  followed  the  steps  of 
the  dwarf,  who  conducted  them  through  many 
dark  and  silent  streets,  down  to  the  water's 
edge. 

As  they  neared  the  shore,  they  were  startled 
by  a  sudden  glare  ;  and,  looking  up,  they  saw 
in  the  distance  a  great  column  of  fire  rising 
from  the  watch-tower  of  the  sultan's  palace ; 
and  the  night  wind  brought  to  their  ears  the 
sound  of  the  clashing  of  arms,  and  loud  voices. 

"  We  must  hurry,"  said  the  dwarf;  "  but,  first, 
I  will  make  sure  that  we  shall  not  be  pursued." 

So  saying,  she  stooped  and  scraped  together 
a  handful  of  sand.  Then  she  bade  them  enter 
a  boat  which  lay  near  by. 

The  knight  lifted  the  maiden  from  the  horse, 
and  carried  her  to  the  boat ;  for,  in  truth,  she  was 
so  terrified  that  she  could  not  have  taken  a  step. 
The  old  nurse  hobbled  in  after  them,  casting 


58  ARABESQUES. 


many  an  affrighted  glance  over  her  shoulder  at 
the  fast  increasing,  angry  blaze  ;  and  the  Egyp 
tian  took  her  place,  standing  in  the  stern  ;  while 
the  knight  dipped  the  oars  into  the  water,  and 
rowed  out  to  the  open  sea. 

As  the  boat  advanced,  the  dwarf  let  the  sand 
fall,  grain  by  grain,  from  her  hand ;  and,  as  it 
fell,  the  water  behind  them  turned  to  sand,  and 
all  the  boats  and  galleys  were  buried  fast  in  it, 
so  that  they  could  not  be  stirred.  They  saw,  as 
they  rowed  away,  a  great  crowd,  led  by  the 
soldiers  of  the  guard-room,  come  rushing  down 
to  the  water's  edge  to  pursue  them.  They  heard 
their  angry  shouts  and  cries,  and  saw  their  un 
availing  efforts  to  raise  the  half-buried  vessels. 

The  Egyptian  turned  as  the  last  grain  of  sand 
fell  from  her  hand,  and,  seating  herself,  compos 
edly  said,  — 

"  Now  we  are  safe.  Lay  down  your  oars,  we 
do  not  need  them." 

A  gentle  wind  sprang  up  as  she  spoke,  the 
ruby  ring  sent  forth  its  rosy  light,  and  the  young 
knight  became  visible.  As  he  assumed  his 
shape,  the  maiden  raised  her  eyes  timidly  to  his, 
intending  to  thank  him  ;  but,  perceiving  his  look 
riveted  upon  her,  she  blushed,  and  turned  away. 
As  the  knight  looked  upon  her  lovely  face,  and 
thought  of  the  delight  of  her  parents  when  they 


MONARE.  59 


should  receive  the  maiden  from  his  hands,  his 
eyes  filled  with  tears  of  joy,  and  he  almost  for 
got  his  own  promised  happiness  in  the  thought 
of  theirs. 

Three  days  and  three  nights  they  floated  over 
the  sea,  borne  on  by  the  gentle  wind,  which 
never  changed  nor  died  away,  lighted  by  the  sun 
by  day,  and  by  the  rosy  radiance  of  the  ring  at 
night.  On  the  fourth  night  they  saw  a  light  far 
oft'  on  the  water's  edge,  at  the  end,  as  it  were, 
of  the  pathway  traced  by  the  ruddy  rays. 

When  the  dwarf  saw  the  light,  she  heaved  a 
deep  sigh,  and  said  to  the  knight, — 

"  Give  me  now  the  ring.     You  have  no  further, 
need  for  it." 

And  the  knight  drew  from  his  finger  the 
ring,  and  gave  it  to  her.  Then  she  said  to  the 
maiden, — 

"  Child,  when  you  saved  me  from  those  who 
were  about  to  take  my  life,  I  vowed  one  day  to 
repay  an  equal  benefit  to  you.  Look  at  that 
light,  far  in  the  distance.  It  shines  before  your 
home.  There,  on  the  shore  of  the  sea,  stand 
your  father  and  your  mother,  with  out-stretched 
arms,  waiting  to  embrace  you.  I  have  kept  my 
vow.  Kiss  me,  my  child." 

The  maiden  pressed  her  sweet  lips  to  the  old 
Egyptian's  withered  cheek,  but  suddenly  she 


60  ARABESQUES. 

felt  upon  them  nothing  but  air.  The  dwarf  had 
vanished  utterly,  and  the  rosy  light  also. 

"  Monare  !  Monare  !  "  cried  the  maiden,  but 
no  voice  replied.  Only  in  the  distance,  from 
the  bosom  of  a  little  white  cloud,  came  a  breath 
that  sounded  like  "  Farewell." 

The  boat  sped  on,  wafted  by  the  wind  ;  and,  as 
it  approached,  they  saw  the  light  higher  and 
broader,  and  they  could  distinguish  the  figures 
of  the  count  and  the  countess,  surrounded  by  all 
their  friends  and  retainers,  holding  high  in  the 
air  torches  whose  waving  light  flashed  out  upon 
the  sea,  and  showed  the  crowd  of  eager  faces 
all  turned  upon  the  fast  advancing  boat. 

As  the  keel  grated  on  the  shore,  Walter  of 
Ilzerley  leaped  from  the  boat,  bearing  the  maiden, 
and  delivered  her  into  her  parents'  arms. 

They  wept  aloud  for  joy  as  they  kissed  and  fold 
ed  to  their  hearts  the  beautiful  maiden  whom  they 
had  last  seen  as  a  babe  in  her  nurse's  arms  ;  and 
their  retainers  shouted  for  gladness  in  welcome 
to  the  daughter  of  the  house  ;  they  pressed  with 
joyous  acclaim  around  the  knight  who  had  res 
cued  her  from  the  captivity  wherein  she  had 
been  bound,  and  greeted  over  and  over  again 
the  old  nurse  who  had  been  lost  to  sight  for  so 
many  years. 

When  her  parents  had  kissed  and  blessed  the 


MONAR£.  61 


maiden,  Father  Anselm  advanced,  and  laid  his 
hand  upon  her  head.  Then  the  maiden  and  her 
parents,  and  Walter  of  Ilzerley,  and  all  around, 
knelt  upon  the  shore  ;  and  the  old  priest  lifted  up 
his  voice,  and  blessed  the  maiden,  and  praised 
and  thanked  God. 

There  was  revelling  at  the  count's  castle  for 
all  that  week  ;  and  not  only  the  rich  and  gay,  but 
the  poor  and  lonely  rejoiced  also,  for  the  count 
and  countess  sent  out  and  summoned  all  the  poor 
of  the  whole  country  round,  and  feasted  them 
in  the  court-yard,  for  they  wished  the  sympathy 
of  all  in  their  great  joy  and  happiness.  And  on 
the  seventh  day  the  maiden  was  married  to  the 
knight  by  Father  Anselm,  in  the  chapel  of  the 
castle,  before  a  great  crowd  of  lords  and  ladies, 
who  had  assembled  from  all  the  castles  far  and 
wide.  But  there  was  none  among  all  the  ladies 
who  could  compare  for  beauty  and  gentleness 
and  grace  with  the  maiden,  as  she  stood  in  her 
long  white  robes  and  snowy  veil  beside  the  knight 
who  had  delivered  her  from  her  captivity. 


APOLLYONA. 


APOLLYONA. 


HINK  not  that  I  was  always 
the  bowed  and  broken  man 
you  see  me  now.  Though 
my  hair  is  white,  yet  I  have 
scarce  seen  thirty  years. 
Strange  and  fearful  is  the 
tale  I  have  to  relate. 
Strange  and  fearful  must  be  the  penance  I 
must  still  undergo  ere  I  can  merit  mercy.  Yet 
great  and  wonderful  has  been  the  compassion 
shown  to  me,  in  that  I  stand  to-day  upon  the 
upper  earth,  a  living  man  ;  and  so  I  pray  and 
dare  to  hope.  And  now  will  I  recount  the  story 
of  my  sin. 

Five  years  ago  I  left  the  lands  whereof  I  was 
lord,  in  quest  of  some  knightly  adventure 
wherein  to  show  myself  a  worthy  servant  of  the 

5 


66  ARABESQUES. 


saint  to  whose  service  I  had  vowed  myself  in 
the  sore  sickness  from  which  I  had  but  even  then 
recovered. 

I  journeyed  on,  until,  after  several  days,  I  saw 
in  the  distance  a  purple,  white-crested  wall  ris 
ing  high  against  the  sky ;  and  I  knew  that  I  saw 
the  Pyrenees,  the  rocky  bar  that  rises  to  shut 
Spain  out  from  France.  I  took  new  courage  at 
the  sight,  and  pushed  on  my  horse.  The  wall 
rose  higher  and  higher  as  I  advanced,  breaking 
into  numberless  snowy-topped  peaks.  It  was 
nightfall  ere  I  reached  the  foot  of  the  mountains, 
so  I  halted  at  a  peasant's  hut  that  lay  half-hidden 
by  the  low  spreading  branches  of  a  great  oak- 
tree,  and,  knocking  at  the  door,  craved  shelter 
for  the  night. 

An  old  woman,  brown  and  wrinkled,  opened 
to  me,  and  bade  me  welcome.  She  spread  for 
my  horse  a  provision  of  hay  and  straw,  beneath 
the  shelter  of  the  oak ;  then  leading  me  into  the 
cottage,  which  was  lighted  by  a  little  brass  lamp, 
she  set  before  me  a  bowl  of  goat's  milk  and  a 
loaf  of  black  bread. 

"  Once  I  could  have  offered  you  better  cheer," 
she  said  sorrowfully,  "  but  now  this  is  the  best 
I  have." 

While  I  was  eating,  the  old  woman  from  time 
to  time  opened  the  door,  and  gazed  anxiously 


APOLLYONA.  67 


forth  towards  the  mountains.  She  sighed  heav 
ily  each  time,  as  she  returned  to  her  seat.  As  I 
looked  around  the  cottage,  I  saw  on  the  wall  the 
cross-bow  and  pouch  of  a  hunter.  I  asked  the 
old  woman  if  she  lived  alone  in  the  hut.  She 
answered  that  she  had  one  son,  a  hunter ;  but 
said  no  more.  Seeing  her  disinclined  to  con 
verse,  I  asked  no  other  question.  After  I  had 
finished  my  meal,  she  showed  me  a  pallet  of 
straw  in  the  corner,  and  I  lay  down  and  fell 
asleep.  I  was  soon  awakened  by  the  entrance 
of  some  one,  and,  opening  my  eyes,  I  saw  a 
young  man  of  striking  form  and  features,  though 
pale  and  haggard.  He  threw  himself  upon  a 
stool,  folded  his  arms  on  his  chest,  and  fixed  his 
eyes  upon  the  ground,  while  the  old  woman 
placed  food  before  him,  and  begged  of  him  to 
eat.  He  took  no  heed  of  her  words,  and  pres 
ently,  rising,  began  to  pace  up  and  down  the 
room,  while  the  old  woman  stood  with  an  anx 
ious  face,  watching  him.  After  a  while  he  went 
to  the  door,  opened  it,  and  gazed  forth  towards 
the  mountains.  Suddenly  he  gave  a  loud  cry, 
and  exclaiming,  "  I  see  her,"  he  sprang  from 
the  house,  and  sped  towards  the  glittering  peaks. 
The  old  woman  burst  into  tears  and  wrung  her 
hands,  as  she  watched  from  the  door  his  head 
long  course. 


68  ARABESQUES. 

I  rose  much  perplexed,  and  asked  of  her  the 
meaning  of  this  strange  scene.  She  wept  some 
time  before  she  could  answer  me ;  at  length, 
with  many  sobs,  she  related  to  me  the  story  of 
the  hunter,  who  was  her  only  son. 

He  had  been  the  bravest  and  most  successful 
hunter  on  the  Pyrenees,  and  was  also  the  gayest 
and  most  light-hearted  of  them  all.  Every 
morning  he  started  at  sunrise  alert  and  joyful, 
and  returned  at  nightfall  laden  with  game.  But, 
at  last,  one  night  he  did  not  come  home.  His 
mother  sat  up  waiting  for  him  all  night  long. 
The  sun  rose,  and  yet  he  had  not  returned.  The 
next  day  all  the  hunters  of  the  neighborhood 
went  in  search  of  him.  They  came  back,  bring 
ing  his  cross-bow  and  pouch,  which  they  had 
found  by  the  side  of  a  dead  ibex,  on  a  height  cov 
ered  with  snow.  They  had  tracked  his  footsteps 
higher  and  higher,  until  they  led  where  the  brav 
est  of  his  comrades  dared  not  follow.  They 
searched  for  him  seven  days,  then  they  gave  him 
up  as  lost. 

One  night  his  old  mother  was  sitting  mourn 
ing,  when  the  door  opened  and  the  lost  hunter 
entered ;  but  so  pale,  so  changed  as  hardly  to  be 
recognized.  He  did  not  return  his  mother's  ca 
resses,  nor  would  he  answer  her  questions  as  to 
where  he  had  been.  He  ate  ravenously  of  the 


APOLLYONA.  69 


food  she  placed  before  him,  then,  throwing  him 
self  down,  without  a  word,  fell  asleep.  Early 
the  next  morning  he  left  the  hut  again,  and  had 
only  returned  that  night.  His  mother  knew  that 
he  had  seen  the  Witch  of  the  Pyrenees,  and  that 
she  had  bewitched  him. 

No  sooner  had  the  old  woman  spoken  the 
name  of  the  Witch  of  the  Pyrenees,  than  a  long 
ing  to  see  her  came  over  me  ;  such  a  longing  as  I 
cannot  describe.  I  forgot  my  quest,  I  forgot  my 
vows  as  a  Christian  knight,  I  forgot  my  hopes 
of  salvation.  I  thought  of  nothing  save  of  how 
I  might  behold  the  Witch  ;  and.  without  waiting 
for  the  sun  to  rise,  I  saddled  again  my  horse, 
and,  taking  leave  of  the  old  woman,  I  pursued 
my  way  up  the  mountains. 

At  first,  the  path  led  through  gently  rising 
slopes  of  sod,  bordered  by  spreading  trees ;  but 
as  I  advanced,  it  became  steeper  and  sterner,  till 
I  was  obliged  to  dismount  and  make  my  way 
forward  on  foot.  Great  rocks  began  to  rise 
before  me,  barring  the  path  ;  and  I  heard  at 
intervals  the  roar  of  hidden  torrents,  rising,  as  it 
were,  from  beneath  my  feet.  I  climbed  with  dif 
ficulty  upward  in  the  moonlight,  which  seemed 
brighter  and  stiller  in  those  mountains  than  I  had 
ever  seen  it  before.  I  felt  no  fatigue  ;  for  the  in 
satiable  desire  that  possessed  me  to  see  the  Witch 


70  ARABESQUES. 


gave  me  strength.  At  length,  after  climbing 
several  hours,  I  came  out  upon  an  open  plat 
form  covered  with  small  grass.  Around,  on 
every  side,  rose  bare  and  desolate  peaks.  No 
living  thing  was  to  be  seen*  There  was  no 
cloud  in  the  heavens ;  there  was  no  breath  stir 
ring  upon  the  earth.  The  silence  around  had 
something  ghost-like  in  it.  I  shivered,  though  I 
felt  no  cold.  Then  the  fever  again  came  over 
me,  and  I  looked  around,  eagerly  searching  for 
some  trace  of  the  Witch. 

All  at  once  I  heard  a  faint,  distant  breath  of 
music.  It  ran  through  me  like  poison.  My 
limbs  failed  under  me,  and  I  sank  on  the  ground, 
in  the  shadow  of  a  great  rock,  which  rose  on 
one  side  of  the  plateau.  The  sweet,  poisonous 
voice  came  nearer  and  nearer.  I  heard  a  low 
rustling  rising  from  every  side ;  and  I  saw,  with 
horror  indescribable,  glistening  snakes,  with 
slow,  writhing  motion,  making  their  way  amid 
the  soft,  green  grass  towards  that  side  of  the  pla 
teau  to  which  the  voice  was  advancing.  I  lay  as 
one  paralyzed,  unable  to  move,  my  eyes  strained 
towards  the  direction  of  the  voice.  Nearer  and 
nearer  it  came  ;  at  length  it  sounded  close  to  me, 
and  I  saw  the  figure  of  the  Witch  rise  up  in  the 
moonlight  and  pass  on  to  the  plateau. 

My  blood  runs  cold  now.  in  this  bright  sun- 


APOLLYONA. 


light,  and  amid  this  joyous  company,  as  I  recall 
her  form.  Though  hundreds  of  years  old,  she 
had  the  face  and  shape  of  a  young  girl,  beautiful 
beyond  the  beauty  of  mortal  woman,  but  with  a 
hideous  strangeness  of  loveliness.  Her  cheeks 
and  lips  were  pallid  as  those  of  a  corpse ;  her 
eyes  shone  like  the  death-lights  that  flicker  over 
new-made  graves,  and  her  long,  floating  hair 
was  white  as  frosted  silver.  In  one  hand  she 
carried  an  ebony  cup ;  in  the  other  a  branch, 
thick  set  with  poisonous  berries.  Her  long, 
white  garments  trailed  behind  her,  leaving  a 
greenish  light  upon  the  grass.  A  deathly  chill 
pervaded  the  air  as  she  advanced, — a  chill  as 
of  a  charnel-house. 

Singing,  followed  by  the  snakes,  she  came 
forward,  until  she  reached  the  middle  of  the 
plateau.  Then  she  seated  herself.  The  snakes 
crowded  close  to  her,  their  white  throats  and 
scaly  backs  shining  in  the  moonbeams  as  they 
writhed  and  pressed  about  her,  uprearing  their 
crested  heads,  and  swaying  them  in  motion  to 
the  song.  Softly  singing,  she  fed  them  with  the 
berries,  tasting  the  fruit  herself  from  time  to 
time- 
As  the  snakes  greedily  closed  around  her,  they 
became  impatient,  and  grew  angry  with  each 
other,  hissing  and  darting  forth  their  forked 


72  ARABESQUES. 


tongues ;  and  one,  the  largest  of  all,  suddenly 
turning  its  rage  upon  the  Witch,  reared  itself 
from  amid  the  writhing  confusion  of  glistening 
folds,  and,  drawing  back  its  head,  struck  at  her, 
fastening  its  fangs  in  her  white  arm.  The  Witch 
laughed  aloud,  and  patted  the  snake's  head  as 
the  sharp  teeth  closed  on  her  flesh.  The  laugh, 
clear  and  silvery,  re-echoed  again  and  again 
from  the  surrounding  peaks.  A  host  of  demons 
seemed  laughing  in  the  air.  A  deeper  chill  ran 
over  me  as  I  listened,  and  yet  I  would  not  have 
moved  to  fly  if  I  could  have  done  so.  Her 
beauty  rilled  my  senses  to  overflowing  with 
delight ;  and  the  very  horror  she  inspired  in 
creased  her  charm. 

When  the  Witch  had  fed  the  snakes,  she 
smoothed  and  caressed  the  head  of  each,  singing 
to  it  a  low,  whispering  song ;  and  the  snakes 
opened  their  mouths,  and  let  fall  from  their 
fangs  drops  of  poison  into  the  ebony  cup. 
When  each  snake  had  paid  its  deathful  tribute, 
she  rose  and  waved  her  hand,  and  all  the  ser 
pents,  glittering  like  silver  lines  across  the  grass, 
withdrew  to  their  hiding-places. 

As  they  disappeared,  the  Witch  looked  around. 
Her  eyes  rested  upon  me  as  I  lay  in  my  armor 
in  the  shadow  of  the  rock.  She  drew  in  her 
breath  eagerly.  Her  eyes  grew  larger,  and  shot 


APOLLYONA.  73 


forth  blazing  light  for  an  instant,  then,  veiling 
them  with  her  long  lashes,  she  stole  towards 
me,  gliding  like  a  ripple  over  the  sea. 

She  stood  before  me,  and  gazed  upon  me 
steadfastly,  with  a  smile  upon  her  lips.  She 
bent  over  me,  and  said  softly,  —  * 

"  Good  knight,  it  is  cold  and  lonely  on  the 
mountain-top.  Will  you  not  come  with  me?  " 

As  she  spoke,  she  laid  her  hand  upon  mine ; 
—  and  my  soul  fled  from  me,  and  left  me  a  prey 
to  the  Witch  ;  and  I  rose  and  followed  her.  Led 
by  the  Witch,  I  descended.  Where  the  way  had 
been  rough  and  steep,  it  was  now  carpeted  with 
moss,  and  fringed  with  blossoms ;  but  beneath 
every  flower  crouched  some  toad,  or  centipede, 
or  noxious  creature,  whose  eyes  shone  out  on 
me  with  an  exulting  glare  as  I  passed.  But 
when  I  looked  on  the  beautiful  face  of  the  WTitch, 
I  thought  no  more  of  them  ;  and  so  she  led  me 
through  flowery  paths,  until  we  reached  the 
mouth  of  a  great  cavern,  which  opened  at  the 
foot  of  a  steep  precipice  of  gray  rock.  The 
Witch  entered  first,  then  turning,  held  out  her 
hand  and  smiled,  and  bade  me  follow.  I  sprang 
forward  to  seize  her  hand.  As  I  crossed  the 
threshold  I  heard  a  mighty  rush  behind  me, 
and,  looking  back,  I  saw  that  a  cataract  was 
pouring  from  the  rock  overhead  so  as  to  close 


74  ARABESQUES. 

the  entrance  of  the  cave.  But  I  cared  not,  so 
long  as  I  was  not  divided  from  the  Witch. 

She  smiled  more  sweetly  than  before,  as  the 
torrent  poured  down,  and  bade  me  welcome, 
saying  that  she  had  long  waited  for  me,  and  that 
all  was  ready  for  my  coming.  I  was  about  to 
answer  her,  when  suddenly  I  perceived  that  she 
had  vanished.  But  as  I  was  sure  that  she 
would  soon  return,  I  was  not  disquieted,  but 
began  to  look  around  me,  and  to  marvel  at  the 
wonders  of  the  place.  The  floor  was  paved 
with  small  pebbles  of  different  colors,  so  ar 
ranged  as  to  form  a  mosaic  of  inextricable  pat 
tern  ;  the  walls  were  curtained  with  tapestry, 
woven  of  fine,  green  grass  and  flowers,  corniced 
and  fringed  with  rows  of  glow-worms,  whose 
brilliancy  shed  a  soft,  intermittent  light  around. 

Broad  and  soft  divans,  covered  with  a  web  of 
delicately  shaded  feathers,  surrounded  the  cave, 
and  invited  me  to  rest.  I  sank  down,  and 
waited  for  the  Witch's  reappearance. 

As  I  waited  and  listened,  I  thought  that  I 
heard  from  a  distance  a  faint  cry,  as  of  one  in 
pain.  I  sprang  to  my  feet,  fearing  that  harm 
had  come  to  the  Witch,  for  I  thought  only  of  her. 
I  looked  around  for  the  way  whereby  she  had 
passed  out,  but  I  could  see  no  break  in  the  con 
tinuous  tapestry  of  green  and  flowers.  While 


APOLLYONA.  75 

I  was  wandering  up  and  down,  seeking  to  follow 
her,  the  hangings  parted  just  before  me,  and  the 
Witch  appeared.  I  sprang  towards  her,  saying, — 

"  I  heard  a  cry  as  of  one  in  pain,  and  I  feared 
that  harm  had  befallen  you." 

She  answered,  — 

"  Can  you  fancy  that  harm  could  befall  any 
one  in  this  cave  of  delights?" 

And  she  laughed  as  she  spoke.  The  laugh 
re-echoed  from  the  softly  lit  cave  as  it  had  done 
before  from  the  rugged  mountain  peaks.  Again 
a  host  of  demons  seemed  laughing  in  the  air, 
and  again  I  shuddered. 

The  Witch  held  in  her  hand  a  crystal  goblet, 
filled  with  a  golden  liquid.  She  held  it  out  to 
me,  and  bade  me  drink.  As  I  took  it,  the 
glow-worms  sent  out  more  brilliant  light,  the 
grass  grew  greener,  the  flowers  deeper,  and 
the  pebbles  on  the  floor  shone  bright.  But,  as 
I  raised  it  to  my  lips,  an  invisible  hand  struck 
the  goblet  from  my  hold.  It  shivered  as  it  fell, 
and  the  liquid  ran  along  the  floor,  leaving  a 
mark  as  though  lightning  had  passed  there.  I 
looked  at  the  Witch,  but  her  face  was  smiling 
and  gentle  as  before. 

"  Had  you  thirsted,  you  would  have  held  the 
goblet  more  firmly,"  she  said.  "  Let  me  give 
you  to  eat." 


76  ARABESQUES. 


And  she  took  from  her  bosom  a  purple  fruit, 
shaped  like  a  heart,  and  bade  me  eat.  But  ere 
I  could  taste  of  it,  it  was  clashed  to  the  ground. 
It  burst  into  a  flame,  blazed  for  an  instant,  then 
went  out,  leaving  a  few  black  ashes. 

"  Neither  are  you  hungry,"  said  the  Witch  ; 
"  but  you  are  tired,  and  must  sleep." 

So  saying,  she  took  me  by  the  hand,  and, 
leading  me  to  a  divan,  seated  herself  by  my  side. 
As  I  sank  back,  I  raised  the  hand  I  held  to  my 
lips ;  but  ere  I  had  pressed  them  to  it,  I  saw  a 
drop  of  blood  upon  her  wrist. 

"  I  have  scratched  myself  with  a  thorn,"  said 
the  Witch,  and  she  wiped  away  the  blood  ;  but 
there  was  no  sign  of  a  scratch  beneath  to  be  seen 
on  her  blue-veined  wrist. 

She  fixed  her  gleaming  eyes  steadily  upon  me, 
moving  her  lips  in  a  strange,  low  rhyme  of 
words  that  I  could  not  understand.  Then  I  can 
remember  little,  save  that  a  drowsiness  stole 
over  me,  and  that  through  it,  as  through  a  cloud, 
I  saw  the  eyes  of  the  Witch  shining  upon  me ; 
and  I  heard  her  voice  fainter  and  fainter,  as  she 
murmured  the  rhyme  of  strange  words  over  me. 

When  I  awoke,  I  found  myself  extended  on  a 
pile  of  cushions.  My  armor  had  been  removed, 
and  I  was  arrayed  in  a  loose  silken  robe. 
Around  me  stood  four  open  censers,  filled  with 


APOLLYONA. 


77 


aromatic  spices  and  with  scented  woods.  The 
flame  which  rose  from  them  shed  a  changeful 
light  around,  dimly  and  by  snatches  revealing 
the  rocky  walls  and  fantastic  furnishing  of  the 
chamber. 

The  seats  were  of  the  knotted  roots  of  trees, 
each  imaging  some  horrible  and  repulsive  creat 
ure.  On  one  side  an  anaconda  rolled  itself  in 
sinuous  folds  around  a  rabbit,  whose  jaws  were 
strained  asunder  by  its  death  agony  ;  opposite,  a 
polypus  was  drawing  into  its  loathsome  mouth 
a  struggling  ape,  which  tossed  its  arms  wildly 
above  its  head  ;  here,  a  leopard,  lithe  and  sinewy, 
pounced  upon  a  cowering  antelope ;  and  a  little 
further,  the  thick-necked  hyena  revelled  upon 
some  ghastly  relic  torn  up  from  a  grave. 

My  observations  were  interrupted  by  the  sound 
of  a  low  chant  rising  from  below.  I  started  up 
and -listened.  Women's  voices  were  singing  a 
slow,  mournful  measure  :  — 

"  I  saw  a  star  fall, 
In  my  dream ; 
It  shot  down  headlong, 
With  a  gleam 
Of  fading  light, 
Into  the  night, — 
Lost,  lost,  for  ever  lost." 

The  voices  paused ;   then  again  repeated,  in 


ARABESQUES. 


tones  that  were  like  the  distant  moaning  of  the 
pines, — 

"Lost,  lost,  for  ever  lost." 

There  was  something  in  the  warning  accent  of 
the  song  that  disquieted  me.  The  fumes  of  the 
burning  essences,  which  had  hitherto  soothed  me 
into  a  state  of  half-unconsciousness,  all  at  once 
cleared  away  from  my  senses.  I  arose,  and 
looked  around  over  the  floor.  I  saw  a  crevice 
whence  came  a  faint  glimmer  of  light.  I  knelt 
and  looked  through  the  aperture.  Below  was  a 
vast,  dimly  lighted  hall.  In  its  centre  was  a 
great  loom,  around  which  was  standing  a  group 
of  maidens.  To  my  horror,  I  perceived  that 
each  of  them  wore  a  serpent  as  a  girdle ;  the 
serpents'  heads  were  turned  upward,  and  rested 
upon  each  maiden's  breast. 

On  the  loom  was  a  web  of  strange  design.  It 
shimmered  and  glanced  as  though  jewels  had 
been  melted  for  the  dyes.  I  had  scarcely  time 
to  snatch  one  look  at  the  band  of  serpent-girdled 
maidens,  when  all  the  serpents  raised  their  heads, 
and,  angrily  hissing,  menaced  the  damsels,  with 
uplifted  crests  and  widely  gaping  jaws.  Thereat 
the  maidens  began  hurriedly  to  weave  the  web, 
and  sang  no  more. 

When  the  snakes  heard  the  sound  of  the  loom 


APOLLYONA.  79 


they  again  couched  their  heads  upon  the  maid 
ens'  bosoms,  and  seemed  to  sleep. 

After  they  had  worked  for  some  time  in  silence, 
I  felt  a  sudden  throb  in  all  my  pulses,  and  saw 
the  figure  of  the  Witch  gliding  forward  from  one 
of  the  darker  recesses  of  the  hall.  The  maidens 
did  not  raise  their  eyes  as  she  approached,  but  I 
saw  them  shiver  as  with  cold. 

The  Witch  came  near  and  examined  the  web. 

"  It  is  soft  as  a  dead  child's  hair,"  she  said ; 
"  as  firm  as  a  drowned  man's  grip." 

She  turned  away. 

"  Bring  me  my  robe  made  from  the  veil  of 
the  great  temple,"  she  said,  "  and  the  ornaments 
that  Astarte  wore  of  old." 

The  maidens  disappeared,  and  presently  re 
turned,  bearing  a  garment  of  blue  and  purple 
and  scarlet,  embroidered  with  such  richness 
that  I  had  never  seen  the  like.  And  they  at 
tired  the  Witch  in  the  robe ;  and  they  placed 
upon  her  long  white  hair  a  coronet  of  golden 
towers,  and  around  her  neck  and  arms  they 
clasped  the  wondrous  ornaments  that  Astarte 
wore  of  old. 

When  she  was  thus  arrayed,  she  was  so  mar 
vellously  beautiful  that  my  heart  stopped  beating, 
and  I  felt  the  blood  rushing  in  my  ears.  I  stag 
gered  back,  and  fell  upon  the  cushions  ;  one  con- 


80  ARABESQUES. 


sciousness  alone  left  me,  —  the  remembrance  of 
the  beauty  of  the  Witch. 

As  I  lay,  a  curtain  was  drawn  aside,  and  the 
maidens  I  had  seen  entered  in  procession,  each 
bearing  a  lighted  torch.  They  formed  them 
selves  into  two  rows,  holding  aloft  the  torches 
they  carried  ;  and  then  I  beheld  the  Witch  glid 
ing  towards  me  in  her  royal,  rainbow  robes,  the 
greenish  light  trailing  from  her  footsteps. 

She  approached  and  took  my  hand,  and  said 
softly,  — 

"  Arise,  my  guest,  and  deign  to  sup  with  me." 

And  I  arose,  and  the  Witch  led  me  forth  into 
a  great,  glittering  hall.  On  every  side  I  saw  the 
transparent  sheen  of  falling  water,  but  all  was 
still,  —  there  was  no  sound  save  the  low  murmur 
of  the  Witch's  voice  as  she  spoke  to  me.  The 
hall  was  illumined  with  a  silvery  light  that 
shone  through  the  surrounding  cascades.  The 
floor  was  covered  with  fine  white  sand.  In  the 
midst  stood  a  table  made  of  an  enormous  sea- 
shell.  On  it  were  piled  luscious  viands  and 
sparkling  wines. 

The  Witch  placed  me  at  the  table,  and  seated 
herself  beside  me.  With  her  dainty  fingers  she 
presented  me  with  food,  and  poured  sparkling 
wine  into  the  goblet  that  stood  near  me. 

At  first  I  had  thought  the  Witch  and  myself 


APOLLYONA.  8l 


were  the  only  beings  within  the  hall ;  but,  as  I 
looked  more  attentively  around,  I  began  to  per 
ceive  strange  and  monstrous  forms  behind  the 
encircling  sheet  of  falling  waters.  They  gib 
bered  and  mocked  at  me  as  I  glanced  from  side 
to  side,  their  transparent  outlines  appearing  and 
disappearing  in  the  ceaseless  motion  of  the  cas 
cades  ;  and  writhed  and  contorted  themselves  in 
silent  ecstasies  of  demoniac  glee. 

"  What  are  those  forms  that  gaze,  mopping 
and  mowing  upon  me?"  I  said  to  the  Witch. 

And  she  replied,  — 

"Nay,  mine  honored  guest,  your  eyes  are 
dazzled  by  the  light  that  plays  along  the  water, — 
ye  behold  nought  else." 

And,  looking  upon  her  as  she  spoke,  I  forgot 
again  to  glance  upon  the  moving  waters  with 
their  unearthly  forms.  I  ate  and  drank,  and 
the  Witch  watched  me  with  gleaming  eyes. 

When  1  ceased  eating, — 

"  Come,"  said  the  Witch,  who  had  tasted  noth 
ing,  "  let  us  sit  and  talk  awhile  together." 

And  she  led  me  to  the  upper  end  of  the  hall, 
where  I  perceived  a  divan  beneath  a  canopy. 
Yet  I  was  sure  that  it  had  not  been  there  when 
I  entered. 

As  she  placed  herself  beside  me,  the  rainbow 
folds  of  her  dress  fell  so  close  that  they  rested 
6 


82  ARABESQUES. 

on  me.  I  looked  down  upon  the  rich  embroid 
ery,  and  wondered  whether  I  had  heard  rightly, 
and  whether  it  were  indeed  the  veil  of  the  great 
temple. 

"  How  beautiful  is  the  robe ! "  I  said  to  the 
Witch.  And  she  answered,  smiling, — 

"  It  comes  from  far.  Shall  I  tell  you  its  his 
tory?" 

And  I  prayed  her  to  speak  on. 

"  When  Titus  had  banded  his  legions  around 
Jerusalem,  so  that  no  one  could  enter  or  go  out 
of  the  city ;  and  when  the  Jews  were  so  pressed 
by  hunger  that  they  had  no  longer  even  leather 
or  parchment  to  devour,  and  mothers  ate  their 
children,  and  men  opened  their  veins  and  drank 
of  their  own  blood ;  then  some  of  the  priests  of 
the  temple  said  to  each  other,  — 

"  'Jehovah  has  deserted  us.  Let  us  call  upon 
the  Demons.  Perchance  they  may  hear  and  save 
us,  even  now/ 

"  And  at  midnight  they  met  in  the  inner  court 
of  the  temple.  The  night  was  dark  and  wild. 
The  wind  howled  along  the  crests  of  the  barren 
mounts  around,  and  brought  to  their  ears  the 
distant  cries  of  the  Roman  guards,  as  they 
relieved  each  other.  The  watch-fires  of  the 
beleaguering  hosts  glimmered  in  a  circle  all 
around  the  city,  telling  how  close  the  besiegers 


APOLLYONA.  83 


had  come,  and  revealing  the  artisans,  busy  on 
the  great  catapults  and  battering-rams  and 
movable  towers,  by  the  aid  of  which  the  city 
was  to  be  stormed  on  the  morrow.  All  was 
motion  and  preparation  in  the  camp  without; 
while  within,  the  wailing  of  the  imprisoned 
Jews,  and  the  despairing  moan  of  women  and 
children,  rose  from  the  city  below,  to  the  mount 
of  the  temple. 

u  The  priests  built  a  fire  of  cedar  wood,  such 
as  the  Demons  love,  in  the  middle  of  the  court ; 
and  around  it  they  traced  the  magic  circle,  and 
the  forbidden  signs.  Then  each  priest  cut  a 
lock  of  hair  from  the  right  side  of  his  head,  and 
cast  it  into  the  blaze,  repeating  the  invocation 
to  the  Demons  of  the  Air.  But  the  Demons  of 
the  Air  were  deaf  to  their  call,  and  would  not 
answer.  Then  they  sacrificed  anew,  each  throw 
ing  a  lock  of  hair  cut  from  the  left  side  of  the 
head  upon  the  pile,  and  they  repeated  the  invo 
cation  to  the  Demons  of  the  Earth.  And  the 
ground  shook  and  opened  before  their  feet,  and 
they  saw  a  flight  of  shadowy  steps.  They  were 
hastening  towards  them,  when  they  heard  a 
sound  like  distant  thunder,  saying, — 

"  ;  Come  not  with  empty  hands  into  the  king 
dom  below.' 

"  So  each  priest,  with  fear  and  trembling,  laid 


84  ARABESQUES. 

his  hands  upon  such  of  the  treasures  of  the 
temple  as  stood  nearest ;  and  one  of  them  tore 
down  the  veil  of  the  tabernacle,  and  bore  it 
away.  Long  years  it  remained  hidden  among 
the  treasures  of  the  Demons  of  the  Earth,  until, 
in  recompense  for  a  service  I  had  rendered  them, 
they  bade  me  choose  from  their  treasury  that 
which  I  most  coveted,  and  I  took  the  veil." 

I  was  rilled  with  astonishment  as  the  Witch 
spoke.  Seeing  my  wonder,  she  asked  me  if  I 
wished  to  behold  all  the  marvels  contained  in 
the  treasury  of  the  Demons.  I  had  no  sooner 
answered,  than  she  laid  one  hand  upon  my 
shoulder,  and  placed  the  other  over  my  eyes ; 
then  she  whispered  some  words  that  I  could  not 
understand,  and  suddenly  I  felt  myself  uplifted 
and  borne  through  the  air,  the  Witch's  hand  still 
over  my  eyes,  the  other  still  resting  on  my  shoul 
der.  A  long  time  seemed  to  elapse,  and  still  I 
felt  the  quick  rush  of  the  air  upon  me.  At 
times  it  was  cold  as  ice ;  at  others,  we  would 
pass  through  heated  blasts  that  scorched  me, 
and  again  we  would  float  through  soft,  scented 
air,  such  as/  I  never  breathed  on  earth.  At 
length  I  rested  on  my  feet,  and  the  Witch  re 
moved  her  hand  from  my  eyes. 

I  found  myself  in  a  hall  of  incalculable  extent, 
lined  with  polished  steel.  Around,  on  pedestals 


APOLLYONA.  85 


of  porphyry,  stood  colossal  statues  of  iron,  each 
with  fiery  eyes.  The  shining  steel  around  re 
flected  these  myriad  fires,  and  diffused  a  blind 
ing  light.  I  veiled  my  dazzled  eyes  with  my 
hands,  but  so  intense  was  the  glare  about  me 
that  the  bone  and  muscle  seemed  but  as  a  rudely 
veil  before  my  sight.  Gradually  I  became  ac 
customed  to  the  brilliancy,  and  was  able  to  look 
about  me.  On  every  side  I  saw  piles  of  gems 
and  of  precious  metals ;  but  these  were  the  least 
of  the  wonders  of  the  place.  The  Witch  showed 
me,  preserved  there,  the  curious  works  and  cun 
ning  inventions  of  mighty  races  whose  very  names 
are  forgotten,  whose  cities  lie  buried  hundreds 
of  feet  below  the  ice  of  the  poles,  where  the 
earth,  she  said,  first  grew  cool  enough  for  man 
to  live  thereon  ;  and,  as  she  showed  them,  she 
told  me  of  the  wars  they  waged  against  the 
Demons  of  Fire  ere  they  could  dispossess  them, 
and  of  the  centuries  of  their  increasing  empire, 
until,  at  length,  they  met  and  fought  till  they 
destroyed  each  other,  and  their  memory  per 
ished  from  off  the  earth.  And  she  displayed 
to  me  the  crowns  and  sceptres  of  all  the  mon- 
archs  who  have  ever  ruled  over  mankind  ;  for,  at 
the  death  of  each,  the  Demons  steal  their  royal 
insignia,  and  replace  them  with  others  fabri 
cated  in  the  depths  below.  And  so  I  beheld  all 


86  ARABESQUES. 


the  history  of  the  world  written  in  diadems ; 
and  I  marvelled  to  see  how  small  a  thing  is 
earthly  state,  and  how  fleeting  are  man's  most 
hoarded  possessions.  And  I  saw  also  the  magic 
wands  of  all  the  sorcerers.  The  vipers  still 
twined,  living,  about  that  of  Aaron  ;  but  around 
the  others  were  but  dried  and  faded  skins. 
And  the  Goblet  of  Dreams  was  there,  with  ever 
shifting  sides  of  uncertain  hues,  and  the  Cap 
of  Soothsaying  and  the  Sandals  of  Speed.  A 
lifetime  would  not  suffice  me  were  I  to  attempt 
to  recount  all  the  wonders  1  looked  upon :  the 
shell  of  the  tortoise,  from  whose  withered  sinews 
still  breathed  a  low,  harmonious  plaint ;  the 
girdle  of  Masinta,  with  which  she  snared  the 
kings ;  the  cup  whence  the  draught  of  hemlock 
poured  death  through  godlike  veins ;  the  hau 
berk  of  the  hero  who  led  the  Scandinavian  hosts 
into  the  halls  of  victory  :  —  I  cannot  recount  the 
thousandth  part  of  what  I  gazed  upon.  But  one 
thing  more  than  aught  else  drew  my  attention. 
It  was  a  small,  black  vial,  from  whose  mouth 
a  violet  cloud  curled  ceaselessly  upward.  I 
questioned  the  Witch  concerning  it. 

u  It  is  nothing,"  she  answered  quickly,  "  noth 
ing  ; "  and  she  sought  to  draw  me  away.  I 
yielded,  and  she  led  me  on  through  wonders 
without  ceasing.  As  long  as  I  heard  her  sweet, 


APOLLYONA.  87 


whispering  voice,  I  remembered  no  more  the 
vial ;  but  at  every  pause  the  thought  of  it  re 
turned  upon  me,  and  I  wondered  what  it  could 
contain,  and  why  she  so  anxiously  sought  to 
draw  me  from  it.  I  determined,  at  length,  to 
obtain  possession  of  it,  if  possible. 

The  Witch  still  seemed  uneasy. 

"  Come  with  me  into  the  gardens  of  the 
Demons,"  she  said,  as  if  she  suspected  my  secret 
resolve. 

She  led  me  up  some  steps,  to  a  sculptured 
golden  door  which  she  unclosed,  and  we  passed 
out  into  gardens  of  wondrous  beauty,  inter 
spersed  with  thickets  of  flowering  shrubs,  and 
groves  of  lofty  trees.  But  every  thing  wore  a 
strange  and  ghost-like  look.  The  light  was  re 
flected  upwards  from  the  ground,  which  was 
formed  of  gold  dust.  Above,  instead  of  the 
blue  sky,  was  a  black  vault,  void  of  sun  or  moon 
or  stars.  No  cloud  floated  over  it.  It  was  like 
the  darkness  ere  the  earth  had  being.  No 
breeze  waved  the  trees  around ;  their  boughs 
and  shining  leaves  stood  motionless ;  the  gor 
geous  flowers  on  every  hand  gave  forth  no 
perfume ;  no  blade  of  grass  stirred  as  we 
moved  on. 

The  Witch  led  me  over  the  green  lawns  to 
wards  a  fountain.  I  stooped  to  dip  my  hand  in 


88  ARABESQUES. 


it,  but  drew  back  astonished.  No  water  had 
met  my  touch,  —  it  was  a  sheet  of  polished  and 
fretted  crystal.  I  turned  aside  to  pluck  a  flower. 
Its  stem  resisted  my  effort ;  it  was  hard  as  iron  ; 
and,  looking  more  closely,  I  saw  that  it  was  an 
enamelled  counterfeit.  "  The  birds,  at  least,  are 
real,"  I  said  to  myself;  and  just  then  one  sailed 
slowly  down  and  lighted  near  me.  I  laid  my 
hand  upon  it  to  caress  it.  Its  feathers  were  cold 
and  unyielding,  and  I  perceived  that  it  was  a 
curiously  constructed  machine. 

"  See  how  much  nobler  are  these  than  the 
perishing  delights  of  earth,"  said  the  Witch. 
"  No  storms  bring  desolation  to  this  land  ;  no 
fierce  winds  shiver  the  adamantine  trees ;  no 
worm  destroys  these  shrubs ;  no  blight  withers 
these  blossoms,  nor  does  the  envious  night  con 
ceal  the  beauties  around.  The  trivial  and  cease 
less  change  of  hours  and  seasons  is  unknown 
here.  Such  as  you  see  them,  these  gardens 
have  v  existed  ages  before  the  flood." 

"  But  where  are  the  Demons?"  I  questioned, 
looking  around,  for  I  saw  no  one. 

The  Witch  laughed  mockingly. 

"Where?"  she  rejoined.  "Answer,  O  De 
mons,  where  are  ye?" 

And  a  deafening  chorus  of  voices,  above,  be 
low,  on  every  side,  replied,  — 


APOLLYONA. 


44  Here  are  we,  here  ! " 

So  threatening  was  the  sound,  that  I  started, 
and  laid  my  hand  instinctively  upon  my  dagger. 

At  the  gesture  a  peal  of  such  demoniac 
laughter  arose  that  I  dropped  the  weapon,  and 
sought  to  close  my  ears.  After  a  while  J.  re 
moved  my  hands.  A  dead  silence  was  around 
me.  I  heard  only  the  singing  of  the  unreal 
birds. 

I  felt  myself  unable  to  endure  the  presence  of 
the  crowd  of  unseen  beings,  and  I  said  to  the 
Witch,  — 

44  Show  me,  I  beg  you,  the  Demons  who  fill 
these  gardens." 

She  looked  at  me  with  a  strange  smile.' 

"  They  are  not  beautiful  to  look  upon,"  she 
replied. 

Nevertheless,  I  persisted  in  my  entreaty. 

44  You  do  not  know  what  you  ask,"  she  said. 
44  You  will  not  dare  to  pass  through  the  fiery 
veil." 

But  still  I  insisted,  and  the  Witch  no  longer 
said  me  nay. 

44  We  must  obtain  permission  of  the  King," 
she  said  ;  44  but  he  is  my  friend  of  old,  and  will 
refuse  me  nothing." 

She  led  me  across  many  broad  and  glittering 
terraces,  until  at  length  we  paused  before  a  wall 


90  ARABESQUES. 


of  solid  rock.  It  was  so  vast  that  its  summit 
lost  itself  in  the  darkness  above,  nor  could  my 
eye  measure  the  extent  of  its  surface  on  either 
side.  In  its  centre  was  an  enormous  portal  of 
some  metal  unknown  to  me,  curiously  banded, 
and  fastened  with  massive  chains. 

The  Witch  tapped  gently.  At  the  summons 
the  chains  fell,  the  bars  unclosed,  and  the  giant 
gates  swung  backward  with  a  jarring  clash. 

A  vast,  black  hall  appeared  before  us,  lighted 
with  pyramids  of  fire,  which  flamed  in  rows  on 
either  side.  At  the  upper  extremity  of  the  hall 
was  a  mighty  throne,  which  blazed  so  fiercely 
that  I  could  not  raise  my  eyes  to  it.  I  could  see 
no  living  form  in  the  hall. 

The  Witch  led  me  towards  the  throne,  stretched 
forth  her  hand,  and  said,  — 

"  O  most  powerful  enemy  of  God,  thou  who 
dost  unsubdued  maintain  thy  sway  over  hosts 
of  those  whom  he  calls  his  children  !  great  Mam 
mon,  hear  and  grant  my  prayer.  Let  this  child 
of  earth  behold  thee  and  thy  subjects  as  ye 
are." 

A  deep  and  awful  voice  answered,  — 

"  He  has  not  passed  through  the  probation." 

And  the  Witch  made  reply, — 

"Truly,  great  Mammon,  I  ask  a  hitherto  un- 
granted  boon ;  but  I  hold  dear  the  desires  of 


APOLLYONA. 


this  child  of  man,  and  therefore  again  I  beseech 
thee  to  fulfil  this  my  request." 

"  So  be  it  !  "  said  the  awful  voice.  And  there 
upon  I  heard  a  crash  as  though  the  foundations 
of  the  earth  were  being  loosed,  and  a  blinding 
curtain  of  flame  wrapped  itself  around  me,  so  that 
I  lost  all  consciousness  of  where  I  was,  and 
deemed  myself  drowning  in  a  fiery  sea.  Then 
the  reverberations  ceased,  the  curtain  of  flame 
was  withdrawn,  and,  raising  my  bewildered 
eyes,  I  saw,  seated  on  the  dazzling  throne,  a 
terrific  shadow  of  gigantic  size.  Its  port  was 
regal  beyond  the  majesty  of  earth  ;  it  held  a 
shadowy  sceptre  in  its  cloudy  hand,  and  on  its 
blackened  brow  it  wore  a  diadem.  But,  gazing 
steadily  upon  it,  I  saw  through  its  breast  ;  and, 
where  there  should  have  been  a  heart,  there  was 
a  stone. 

Horror-stricken,  I  averted  my  eyes  ;  and,  lo, 
the  hall  was  full  of  shadows,  and  all  in  their 
bosoms  carried  stones  for  hearts.  Some  of  the 
shadows  wore  the  mien  of  weighty  magistrates  ; 
some  had  the  martial  bearing  of  the  leaders  of 
armies  ;  some  presented  the  semblance  of  holy 
priests.  Students,  wan  and  wasted,  were  there  ; 
princes  and  magnates  also.  Nor  w^  the  crowd 
composed  of  the  shadows  of  men  alone.  I  saw 
there  women,  some  old  and  haggard,  stooping 


92  ARABESQUES. 

with  weight  of  years  ;  some  young  and  fair,  with 
rounded  forms  and  graceful  outlines :  but  all 
alike  bore  in  their  bosoms  a  stone  instead  of  a 
heart. 

And  I  shrank  and  shuddered,  and  said  to  the 
Witch,  — 

"  Lead  me  away." 

But  she  smiled  in  mockery,  and  replied,  — 

"  Nay,  have  you  not  your  wish  ?  " 

And  I  implored  still  more  earnestly  that  she 
would  lead  me  away  ;  for  I  feared  in  my  own 
thoughts  that,  did  I  longer  tarry,  my  heart,  also, 
would  turn  into  a  stone. 

And  the  Witch  made  obeisance  to  Mammon, 
and  we  turned  away. 

She  conducted  me  through  spacious  banquet- 
ing-rooms,  lined  and  paved  with  marbles  from 
the  inner  chambers  of  the  earth,  of  brilliancy 
such  as  I  had  never  seen  before. 

"  When  mortals  seek  for  these  stones,  they 
find  only  what  Nature  has  cast  aside  as  failures,'* 
said  the  Witch.  "  The  Demons  only  have  access 
to  the  secret  recesses  where  she  stores  her  pre 
cious  things." 

We  passed  on  through  sumptuous  courts  and 
gleaming  galleries,  until  my  brain  ached  with 
the  incessant  glare ;  for  all  were  lighted  from 
the  ground,  which  gave  a  ghastly  and  unreal 


APOLLYONA.  93 

aspect  to  every  object  that  I  beheld.  Moreover, 
I  still  shrank  and  shuddered  at  the  presence  of 
the  silent,  shadowy  throngs  which  filled  the 
palace. 

The  Witch  remarked  my  uneasiness. 

"  Come,"  she  said,  in  her  sweet,  whispering 
voice,  "let  us  return  into  the  gardens,  and  repose 
ourselves  under  the  adamantine  trees." 

And  again  I  gave  up  my  soul  to  her  as  a  bird 
yields  itself  up  to  the  fowler ;  and  she  led  me 
through  golden  gates  into  the  glittering  gardens. 
But  here,  also,  were  the  shadows.  I  closed  my 
eyes  not  to  see  them  ;  and,  turning  to  the  Witch, 
I  prayed  that  she  would  take  from  me  the  newly 
bestowed  gift  of  sight. 

She  breathed  three  times  upon  my  eyelids, 
and,  when  I  again  opened  my  eyes,  I  saw  no 
more  the  shadows  with  their  hearts  of  stone  :  I  be 
held  only  the  face  of  the  Witch  shining  upon  me. 

We  seated  ourselves  beneath  the  adamantine 
trees,  and  the  Witch  began  to  tell  me  a  tale  in  a 
voice  so  sweet  that  I  could  have  listened  to  her 
for  ever. 

"  When  Sardanapalus  was  king  of  the  East, 
and  his  power  was  so  great  that  no  other  prince's 
name  was  spoken  in  all  the  earth  save  his,  he 
went  out  one  day  with  a  mighty  train  to  hunt. 
He  took  his  way  towards  the  hills,  to  the  north 


94  ARABESQUES. 

of  the  city,  where  a  wild  boar,  of  enormous  size 
and  great  fierceness,  had  made  its  appearance, 
and  was  devastating  all  around.  The  dogs 
sought  for  it  long  in  vain,  at  the  place  where  it 
had  last  been  seen;  at  length,  in. a  deep  fell, 
they  found  it,  and  forthwith  gave  it  chase.  The 
creature  was  swift  and  wily,  and  led  the  king 
and  his  train  very  far  away.  At  last,  rising 
beyond  a  barren  plain,  they  saw  a  high  moun 
tain.  Its  peaks  were  bare  and  scorched ;  no 
grass  or  trees  grew  on  its  arid  sides ;  no  birds 
sailed  over  it ;  the  sunlight,  bright  on  all  beside, 
refused  to  touch  it ;  a  dark  shadow  veiled  it, 
although  there  were  no  clouds  in  the  sky.  The 
boar,  which  still  seemed  as  fresh  as  when  the 
dogs  first  roused  it  from  its  lair,  took  its  un 
wieldy  way  across  the  plain,  and  hid  itself  in 
the  recesses  of  the  dark  mountain. 

"  When  the  king's  attendants  saw  where  the 
animal  had  taken  refuge,  they  all  drew  their 
bridle-reins,  and  besought  him  to  go  no  farther. 
But  the  king  scoffed  at  their  importunity,  and 
bade  them  go  on.  Then  an  old  man,  who  had 
been  the  king's  governor  in  his  youth,  told  him 
that  a  prophecy  was  written  in  the  most  ancient 
of  the  sacred  books,  that,  should  the  king  once 
set  his  foot  upon  that  mountain,  the  kingdom 
would  be  destroyed. 


APOLLYONA.  95 


"  But  the  king  jeered  at  him,  and  bade  all  his 
traFn  rejoin  the  hounds,  who  were  barking  shrilly 
and  loudly,  having  brought  the  boar  to  bay. 
And  he  set  spurs  to  his  horse,  and  forced  him 
up  the  mountain  side,  and  all  the  courtiers  fol 
lowed  him. 

"  When  they  reached  the  defile  wherein  the 
boar  had  been  brought  to  bay,  they  found  the 
dogs  in  a  sore  plight :  some  tossed  here  and 
there,  dying  ;  the  rest  mangled,  bleeding,  fearing 
to  approach  more  closely,  encircled,  baying  fu 
riously,  the  monster,  who  stood,  his  coarse 
mane  bristling,  his  small,  red  eyes  glowing,  the 
white  foam  flying  from  his  jaws  as  he  gnashed 
his  frightful  tusks  and  glared  around.  The  king 
ordered  a  second  pack  of  hounds  to  be  un 
leashed  ;  but  just  as  they  were  dashing  boldly 
forward  upon  their  foe,  and  Sardanapalus  was 
eagerly  bending  from  his  saddle  to  view  the 
strife,  —  for  he  delighted  in  such  contests,  and 
the  longer  and  the  fiercer  they  were  the  better 
he  was  pleased,  —  a  strange  dog,  of  wonderful 
size  and  beauty,  sprang  down  the  rocks,  and 
seized  the  boar  by  the  throat  with  so  close  a 
grip  that  he  laid  him  dead  on  the  ground. 

"  The  king  turned  white  with  rage  at  this  bold 
intrusion  and  the  speedy  close  to  which  it  had 
brought  his  sport,  and  he  forthwith  ordered  one 


96  ARABESQUES. 


of  the  slaves  to  slay  the  dog  on  the  spot.  The 
slave  went  forward  to  where  the  hound  sfood 
proudly  over  the  prostrate  monster,  and,  draw 
ing  his  short,  two-edged  sword,  stabbed  him  to 
the  heart. 

u  As  the  dog's  dying  howl  rang  out,  a  cry  of 
grief  sounded  from  above ;  and,  looking  up, 
they  saw  on  an  overhanging  point  of  rock  the 
figure  of  an  old  man.  They  had  scarcely  time 
to  glance  upward  ere  he  was  gone ;  and  though 
the  king  ordered  search  to  be  made  for  him,  he 
could  not  be  found ;  and  Sardanapalus,  in  a 
sullen  mood  at  the  loss  of  the  chief  pleasure  of 
the  day,  turned  back  towards  the  city,  while  his 
attendants  rode  with  downcast  heads,  pondering 
on  the  rashness  of  the  king,  and  on  its  probable 
evil  consequences. 

"  A  week  passed  by,  and  nothing  unusual  oc 
curred.  Day  by  day,  with  unfailing  punctuality, 
the  wonted  messengers  arrived  from  the  different 
provinces  which  owned  the  sway  of  Sardanap 
alus,  and  all  brought  the  accustomed  tidings 
of  peace  and  prosperity  everywhere.  The  sun 
shone  bright,  the  heavens  were  without  a  cloud, 
and  the  doomed  king  looked  around  him  and 
laughed  in  his  heart  the  prophecy  to  scorn. 

"  At  noon,  on  the  eighth  day,  the  guards  on  the 
palace  wall  saw  a  mighty  crowd  approaching, 


APOLLYONA.  97 


following  an  old  man,  who  led  a  black  horse  by 
the 'bridle.  The  confused  cries  and  shouts  of 
wonder  and  astonishment  of  the  people  filled 
the  air,  and  reached  even  to  the  inner  chambers 
of  the  palace  where  the  king  sat.  As  the  old 
man  drew  nearer,  the  guards  perceived  that  the 
horse's  daintily-stepping  hoofs  were  of  gold,  and 
that  its  flowing  tail,  and  the  ample  mane  which 
it  tossed  impatiently  from  side  to  side,  were  of 
shining  silver. 

"  When  the  old  man,  leading  the  horse,  had 
reached  the  great  gate  of  the  palace,  he  made 
obeisance  to  the  captain  of  the  guard,  and 
humbly  craved  an  audience  of  the  king. 

uAnd  Sardanapalus,  surrounded  by  those 
who  were  with  him,  came  out  upon  a  balcony 
above  the  great  court,  and  ordered  the  old  man 
and  the  wonderful  horse  to  be  brought  before 
him. 

"  The  old  man  prostrated  himself,  and  said, — 

"  '  O  most  powerful  king !  deign  to  look  gra 
ciously  upon  thy  servant,  and  to  accept  the  gift 
he  brings :  a  horse  from  the  plains  which  crown 
the  Mountains  of  the  Moon.' 

"  And  the  king,  with  courteous  words,  accept 
ed  the  gift,  and  ordered  as  much  gold  as  three 
horses  could  carry  to  be  given  to  the  old  man. 

"  As  the  stranger  rose  from  the  ground,  he 
7 


ARABESQUES. 


glanced  for  an  instant  upward  at  Sardanapalus  ; 
and  all  those  who  stood  around  him  on  the  bal 
cony  closed  their  eyes  involuntarily,  as  at  a  bolt 
of  lightning ;  and  even  the  king  shrank  back  an 
instant,  as  does  a  sleeper  before  whose  closed 
eyelids  the  light  of  a  lamp  is  flashed. 

"The  king's  governor,  who  stood  behind  him, 
bent  forward  and  looked  earnestly  at  the  retreat 
ing  figure  of  the  old  man,  who,  conducted  by  the 
slaves  of  the  court,  was  leading  the  horse  towards 
the  king's  stables;  and  said, — 

"  '  O  king !  unless  my  eyes  deceive  me,  I  be 
hold  again  the  old  man  who  stood  on  the  peak 
of  the  Fatal  Mountain,  when  the  strange  hound 
was  slain.  I  beseech  you,  O  king !  send  away 
the  horse  and  its  giver.  I  foresee  that  no  good 
will  come  of  the  gift.' 

"  But  Sardanapalus,  who  loved  a  noble  steed, 
and  cared  for  no  pleasure  save  the  manly  one  of 
the  chase,  paid  no  heed  to  his  governor's  words, 
and  began  to  congratulate  himself  on  his  good 
fortune  in  becoming  the  possessor  of  such  an 
unequalled  barb.  While  he  was  still  expressing 
his  satisfaction,  the  captain  of  the  guard  of  the 
stables  entered,  with  a  troubled  face,  and  related 
that  when  he  had  conducted  the  old  man  to  the 
stable  of  marble,  for  that  he  had  judged  the  horse 
worthy  of  that  place  of  honor,  the  stranger  had 


APOLLYONA.  99 

requested  to  lead  in  the  steed  alone.  They  had 
waited  long  for  him  to  come  out,  and  had  at 
length  followed  him  within.  The  horse  was 
there  fastened  by  the  bridle,  but  the  old  man  had 
vanished. 

"  The  king  knit  his  brows. 

"  '  What!  does  the  old  man  despise  my  gift?' 
he  exclaimed.  4  Seek  him  throughout  the  city, 
and  bring  him  before  me  that  he  may  name  his 
own  reward.  It  shall  never  be  said  that  Sarda- 
napalus  was  a  niggardly  giver ;  sooner  shall  he 
have  a  province  for  the  horse.' 

"  Then  again  the  governor,  still  more  alarmed 
at  the  old  man's  disappearance  than  before, 
implored  the  king  to  send  away  the  horse ;  but 
Sardanapalus  rebuked  him  sharply,  and  ordered 
the  master  of  the  hunt  to  have  all  in  readiness  to 
start  at  daybreak  the  next  morning.  Having 
done  this,  he  proceeded,  followed  by  his  great 
officers,  to  the  council  chamber,  and  there  lis 
tened  to  the  reports  sent  in  from  his  different 
provinces,  and  transacted  all  affairs  of  state  for 
that  day  and  the  next ;  for  he  was  a  wise  and 
prudent  ruler,  and  prized  the  welfare  of  his 
people  above  all  else. 

"  The  morrow  broke  fair  and  cloudless.  A  cool, 
inviting  breeze  tempered  the  heat,  and  waved 
the  branches  of  the  trees  upon  the  hanging  gar- 


100  ARABESQUES. 

dens  which  surrounded  the  palace.  As  the  sun 
rose  redly  over  the  eastern  hills,  the  trumpets 
sounded  in  the  outer  court ;  and  the  king  with  all 
his  officers  and  attendants,  arrayed  in  hunting 
garb,  came  forth  from  the  inner  apartments. 
The  horses  stood  ready  for  them.  The  black 
barb,  superbly  caparisoned,  awaited  its  rider. 
It  stood  quiet  and  unmoved ;  but  all  the  other 
horses  seemed  wild  with  affright.  They  were 
backing  and  rearing,  their  eyes  starting,  their 
nostrils  distended,  and  the  sweat  pouring  from 
their  haunches.  The  slaves  could  with  difficulty 
restrain  them. 

"  '  What  is  this?'  said  Sardanapalus,  laughing 
as  he  saw  the  scene  of  confusion.  '  Is  there  a 
lion  in  the  court?' 

"And  he  patted  the  neck  of  the  black  steed, 
with  its  mane  of  shining  silver,  and  vaulted  into 
the  saddle.  As  he  settled  himself  firmly  in  his 
seat,  the  horse  turned  its  head  over  its  shoulder 
and  looked  at  him.  The  same  bolt  of  lightning 
that  they  had  an  instant  seen  on  the  day  before, 
again  blinded  the  eyes  of  all  around ;  and  again 
the  king  shrank,  as  does  a  sleeper  before  whose 
closed  eyelids  a  sudden  light  is  flashed. 

"  They  left  the  city  and  careered  gayly  across  the 
plain,  until  at  length  they  reached  the  open  coun-. 
try.  Ere  long  the  brisk  cry  of  the  dogs  and  the 


APOLLYONA. 


cheery  calls  of  the  slaves  gave  notice  that  the 
game  was  scented.  At  that  instant  the  black 
barb  made  a  furious  bound,  and  darted  away 
with  incredible  swiftness.  In  vain  the  king  used 
every  art  of  horsemanship  to  check  its  speed. 
It  spurned  at  them  all,  and  still  flew  onward 
like  the  wind.  For  a  while  Sardanapalus  heard 
behind  him  his  attendants,  as  they  sought  in  vain 
to  rejoin  him  ;  but  gradually  the  sound  of  their 
cries  and  the  trampling  of  their  horses'  hoofs 
died  away,  and  he  was  in  the  wilderness  alone, 
still  borne  onward  as  by  the  sweep  of  a  mighty 
wind. 

"  The  horse  stayed  not  its  course  by  field  nor 
by  flood,  till  at  last  the  king  saw,  rising  across 
the  barren  plain,  the  dark  outline  of  the  Fatal 
Mountain.  Again,  as  the  prophecy  rushed  upon 
his  memory,  he  strove,  with  straining  nerve  and 
swelling  muscle,  to  check  the  headlong  course 
of  his  steed,  and  again  he  found  his  every  effort 
powerless.  As  they  neared  the  mount,  the  horse 
raised  its  head  and  neighed.  The  sound  rever 
berated  like  thunder  from  the  scathed  and  riven 
peaks,  and  lost  itself  in  hollow  mutterings  among 
their  obscure  recesses. 

"  The  horse  sprang  up  a  rugged  and  stony  defile, 
and,  winding  its  way  with  unabated  speed  through 
a  series  of  labyrinthine  turnings,  finally  bore  its 


V   102 V  i  V\  \,:  ARABESQUES. 


rider  into  a  deep  and  narrow  gorge.  Scowling 
rocks  rose  on  either  side  till  they  seemed  to  touch 
the  sky.  A  sulphurous  stench  rilled  the  air,  so 
that  the  king  could  scarcely  draw  his  breath. 
No  trace  of  life,  not  even  an  insect  nor  a  tuft  of 
moss,  was  to  be  seen.  It  seemed  the  very  home 
of  desolation. 

"The  steed  dashed  over  the  masses  of  broken 
rock  which  obstructed  the  valley.  Darkness 
began  to  close  about  Sardanapalus  as  he  was 
borne  forward.  It  gathered  fast,  until,  when 
the  horse  finally  halted,  he  could  distinguish 
nothing. 

"  The  king's  first  impulse  was  to  throw  himself 
from  the  back  of  the  golden-footed  horse ;  his 
next,  to  gaze,  giddy,  bewildered,  and  perplexed, 
through  the  darkness  around.  He  saw  a  faint 
light  gleaming  from  the  all  but  inaccessible  mouth 
of  a  cave  above  him.  As  it  caught  his  eye,  an 
irrepressible  fever  of  curiosity  seized  upon  him. 
He  clambered  with  difficulty,  groping  his  way, 
up  the  rocky  face  of  the  precipice,  and  stood  at 
the  entrance  of  the  grotto.  An  unexpected  sight 
met  his  eye. 

"  Beside  a  crystal  lamp,  on  a  low  stool,  sat  a 
Woman  spinning.  Her  robe,  which  fitted  closely 
to  her  form,  was  of  scarlet ;  her  long  hair,  un 
bound,  caught  the  light  and  shone  like  fire.  Her 


APOLLYONA.  103 

eyes  were  cast  down  upon  her  work ;  and  she 
was  singing  a  sweet,  strange  rhyme. 

"  As  Sardanapalus  looked  upon  the  Woman, 
the  remembrance  of  his  wild  ride,  of  the  Fatal 
Mountain,  and  of  the  ancient  prophecy  in  the 
sacred  book,  faded  from  his  memory  as  a  wreath 
of  morning  mist  disappears  before  the  noon 
tide  heat.  He  would  have  drawn  near  and  spoken 
to  her;  but  an  awe,  hitherto  unknown  to  him, 
fettered  his  limbs  and  chained  his  tongue.  He 
stood  motionless,  gazing  on  her"  — 

"  As  I  on  you,"  broke  from  my  lips. 

And  the  Witch  smiled,  and  her  eyes  gleamed, 
and  she  repeated,  — 

"  Yes,  as  you  on  me." 

"  The  Woman  span,  still  singing  her  sweet, 
strange  song,  until  the  wool  on  the  spindle  was 
ended.  Then  she  arose  from  her  seat  beside  the 
crystal  lamp,  and,  moving  towards  the  king,  she 
said,  without  raising  her  eyes,  — 

u  4  O  stranger,  speak  !  wherein  can  I  serve  you  ? ' 

u  But  Sardanapalus  was  so  amazed  at  her 
beauty  that  he  answered  her  never  a  word. 

"  Then  she  took  him  by  the  hand  and  led  him 
gently  forward,  and  placed  him  on  the  seat 
whence  she  had  risen.  And  she  set  before  him 
vessels  of  gold  and  of  silver,  and  she  served  him 
with  meat  and  wine.  Then  she  made  him  to 


104  ARABESQUES. 


recline  upon  a  couch  of  cushions  ;  and  she  again 
began  to  spin,  singing  the  while  her  rhyme. 

"  And,  as  Sardanapalus  listened,  his  strength 
melted  as  wax  before  the  fire,  and  his  manhood 
fell  away  from  him  like  a  garment  that  is  cast 
aside  ;  he  forgot  his  kingdom  and  his  people,  his 
honor,  his  glory,  and  all  that  he  had  hitherto 
loved  and  delighted  in  ;  and,  as  the  fool's  soul  left 
him,  he  closed  his  beclouded  eyes,  and  tears  of 
soft  pleasure  rolled  down  his  sunburnt  cheeks, 
and  rested  on  his  manly  beard."  And  again  the 
Witch  laughed  as  I  before  had  heard  her,  and 
again  the  mocking  fiends  seemed  laughing  in  the 
air. 

u  When  the  lords  and  attendants  saw  their  king 
borne  away  by  the  black  steed,  they  tore  their 
hair,  and  roused  the  echoes  with  their  lamenta 
tions.  They  knew  not  which  way  to  seek  the 
monarch,  nor  dared  they  return  to  the  city  with 
out  him. 

"  Then  the  old  governor  spoke.  His  words 
were  few.  He  said,  — 

"'To  the  Fatal  Mountain!  There  shall  we 
find  the  king/ 

u  And  the  train,  suddenly  struck  into  silence, 
obeyed. 

"  Long  they  sought  Sardanapalus  in  vain  among 
the  riven  peaks  and  blasted  recesses  and  ravines 


APOLLYONA.  105 


and  shadows  of  the  mountain.  At  length  the 
old  governor,  with  a  few  others,  made  his  way 
through  the  tortuous  defile  into  the  darkness  of 
the  valley  ;  and  there,  on  the  face  of  the  precipice, 
they  saw  the  glimmering  of  light  from  the  mouth 
of  the  grot.  They  climbed  the  rock  and  entered. 
They  saw  the  Woman  in  her  scarlet  robe,  sitting 
by  the  lamp  of  crystal,  spinning  and  softly  sing 
ing  ;  and  on  the  couch  beyond  lay  Sardanapalus, 
asleep. 

"  '  Accursed  one  ! '  said  the  governor  to  the  wo 
man,  4  by  what  devilish  arts  hast  thou  ensnared 
our  king?' 

"  And  she  answered,  smiling  gently,  *  Nay, 
my  lord,  I  knew  not  that  it  was  the  king.  A 
stranger,  weary  and  fasting,  sought  refuge  here, 
and  I  gave  him  food  and  rest.  Did  I  not 
well?' 

"  But  the  old  governor  hearkened  not  to  her 
words.  He  stood  by  Sardanapalus,  and  im 
plored  of  him  to  rise.  Then  the  king  sat  up, 
and  looked  with  a  vacant  and  irresolute  air 
around  upon  his  servants. 

" '  Hasten   hence,   O   king!    I   beseech   you. 
It  is  evil  for  you  to  be  here/  prayed  the  gov-, 
ernor. 

"  But  the  king  paid  no  heed.  He  still  gazed 
vacantly  around,  until  his  eyes  rested  on  the 


106  ARABESQUES. 


Woman.  Then  a  sudden  light  broke  from  them. 
He  arose  and  drew  near  her.  And  the  Woman, 
with  fair  words  and  downcast  eyes,  bade  him 
farewell.  The  king  cast  himself  on  the  ground 
at  her  feet,  and  prayed  of  her  that  she  would 
come  with  him.  And  the  governor  and  those 
who  were  with  him  grew  crimson  with  shame 
to  see  the  degradation  of  so  mighty  a  monarch ; 
but  the  Woman  was  in  no  wise  moved  by  his 
entreaties,  and  obstinately  refused  to  leave  the 
cave.  Then  the  king  rose  furiously  to  his  feet, 
and  ordered  his  attendants  to  seize  upon  her  and 
bear  her  away.  The  governor  would  have  again 
spoken,  but  Sardanapalus,  foaming  with  rage, 
cursed  at  him  with  a  fearful  oath,  and  bade  him 
hold  his  peace  for  a  dotard  ;  and  again  he  com 
manded  his  courtiers  to  lay  hold  upon  the 
Woman  and  bear  her  away.  And  they  raised 
her  in  their  arms  and  bore  her  from  the  cave ; 
but,  as  they  moved  forward,  they  gazed  at  each 
other  in  affright.  -No  weight  rested  on  their 
arms.  They  seemed  to  be  bearing  a  vision 
away. 

"  Warily  they  descended  the  precipice.    When 

..they  had  reached  the  ground,  according  to  the 

king's  command,  they  sought  for  the  black  horse  ; 

but  it  was  gone,  and  no  one  ever  beheld  it  more. 

"  They  made  their  way  with  difficulty  over  the 


APOLLYONA.  107 


rough  and  jagged  rocks,  the  king  holding  him 
self  ever  beside  the  Woman,  as  she  was  borne 
forward  in  the  courtiers'  arms.  As  they  neared 
the  exit  from  the  labyrinthine  windings  of  the 
valley,  they  saw  above  them,  sharply  defined 
against  the  impending  shadow,  the  figure  of  the 
old  man.  But,  as  they  gazed,  it  vanished  into 
thin  air,  cheating  their  sight.  They  were  ter 
rified,  and  pressed  forward  more  rapidly,  casting 
anxious  glances  over  their  shoulders ;  but  Sar- 
danapalus  had  seen  nothing,  his  eyes  were  fixed 
upon  the  face  of  the  Woman. 

"  They  halted  as  they  emerged  from  the 
shadow  of  the  mountain  ;  and  the  king  with  many 
entreaties  implored  the  Woman  to  forgive  him  for 
having  brought  her  away  by  force,  and  besought 
her  thenceforth  to  accompany  him  willingly. 
And  she  answered  him,  saying  that,  since  re 
sistance  would  be  vain,  she  must  perforce  submit. 
But,  although  her  words  were  discourteous,  they 
delighted  the  king,  who  trusted  to  propitiate  her 
later. 

"  He  caused  her  to  be  mounted  upon  a  white 
horse,  and  he  rode  on  by  her  side,  bending  from 
his  saddle-bow  to  catch  each  accent  of  her  low, 
whispering  voice  ;  and  so  they  proceeded  slowly 
on,  until  at  even-tide  they  entered  the  city  and 
gained  the  palace. 


108  ARABESQUES. 


"  Nothing  could  equal  the  astonishment  of  all 
the  people  at  the  sight  of  the  strange  Woman 
riding  at  the  king's  right  hand.  As  the  rumor 
spread  amongst  the  crowd  that  he  had  brought 
her  from  the  Fatal  Mountain,  the  old  and  the 
prudent  shook  their  heads  ominously,  and  held 
their  right  hands  behind  them,  with  the  fore  and 
the  little  fingers  extended  ;  but  all  the  young  and 
middle-aged  were  loud  in  their  praises  of  her 
beauty,  and  of  the  grace  wherewith  she  man 
aged  her  milk-white  steed. 

"  As  side  by  side  with  Sardanapalus  she  passed 
through  the  great  gate  and  entered  the  outer 
court,  a  sharp,  rending  sound  was  heard ;  and 
the  pointed  summit  of  the  great  obelisk  which 
Ashur  had  raised  long  centuries  before,  crashed 
down,  splintering  the  jasper  pavement,  and  sink 
ing  deep  into  the  ground. 

"  But  the  king  did  not  turn  his  head.  He 
heard  nothing  save  the  Woman's  soft  voice. 

"  When  she  had  dismounted,  he  led  her  into 
a  magnificent  hall,  and  prayed  her  to  repose  her 
self  a  while.  Then,  leaving  her,  he  bathed  him 
self  in  warmed  and  scented  waters ;  he  caused 
his  beard  and  hair  to  be  curled  in  long  ringlets, 
according  to  the  custom  of  his  ancestors,  which 
he  had  never  followed  before  ;  and  he  arrayed 
himself  in  his  most  precious  robes.  And  all  his 


APOLLYONA.  109 


officers  and  courtiers  wondered  ;  for  Sardanapalus 
had  hitherto  bathed  only  in  water  cooled  with  ice 
from  the  frozen  mountain  peaks,  and  had  paid 
no  heed  to  the  adorning  of  his  person. 

"  When  the  king  was  thus  attired,  he  returned 
to  the  hall  where  he  had  left  the  Woman  ;  and 
presently  a  sumptuous  banquet  was  served  to 
them,  and  all  the  great  lords  of  the  kingdom 
presented  the  different  viands.  The  old  gov 
ernor  was  also  there  ;  but  his  eye  was  dark,  and 
his  cheek  was  pale.  It  was  he  who  poured  out 
wine  to  the  stranger.  As  he  offered  to  her  the 
golden  goblet,  his  hand  trembled.  She  drank, 
and  gave  it  back  to  him,  smiling  in  his  eyes. 

"  '  Serve  me  ever  such  wine  as  that,  for  I  will 
drink  none  other/  she  said. 

"  And  his  heart  quailed,  for  he  read  in  her 
smile  that  she  had  drunk  the  poison  knowingly. 

"  The  deadly  draught  seemed  but  to  enhance 
the  brilliancy  of  her  beauty.  Her  eyes  flashed 
brighter  under  the  countless  lamps  ;  her  lips  took 
a  ruddier  hue  ;  a  lambent  flame  seemed  playing 
beneath  the  soft  tints  of  her  skin.  The  king  sat 
like  one  in  a  dream,  gazing  upon  her ;  and  all 
around  gazed  likewise,  spell-bound  by  her  love 
liness,  —  all  save  the  old  governor,  who  had 
shrunk  away  in  dread. 

"  But,  as  the  dark  hours  wore  on,  the  smile 


110  ARABESQUES. 

faded  upon  the  Woman's  lips.  She  sighed,  and 
looked  wistfully  around. 

"  Sardanapalus  entreated  to  know  her  wish ; 
and  she  said  to  him,  — 

" '  O  king  !  know  that  I  am  bound  by  an  oath 
to  spin  a  certain  number  of  skeins  every  night. 
Should  the  morning  dawn  ere  I  had  fulfilled  my 
appointed  task,  my  beauty  would  wither  away 
and  my  frame  shrivel  and  be  consumed  like  a 
green  bough  cast  into  a  fiery  furnace.' 

"  At  this,  Sardanapalus  sprang  hastily  from 
the  couch  whereon  he  had  been  reclining,  and 
ordered  the  wheel  of  the  Fate  Amryta  to  be 
forthwith  brought  from  the  treasury.  The 
wheel  was  of  carven  crystal,  and  there  was  a 
tradition  that  whatever  was  spun  upon  it  would 
turn  into  threads  of  gold ;  but  so  stubborn  was  it 
that  none  within  the  memory  of  man  had  been 
able  to  turn  it. 

"  The  wheel  was  brought.  When  the  Woman 
saw  it,  she  smiled,  and  ran  her  fingers  over  it. 

"  '  It  is  as  I  left  it,'  she  said  below  her  breath. 
But  the  sound  was  lost  in  the  humming  of  the 
wheel ;  for,  to  the  wonder  of  all  around,  she  turned 
it  with  the  slightest  motion  of  her  hand,  and  the 
silk  they  brought  her  she  span  into  threads  of 
gold. 

"  As  she  span,  she  began  to  sing  again  the  low 


APOLLYONA.  Ill 

rhyme  that  the  king  had  heard  in  the  mountain 
cave  ;  and  again,  as  then,  slumber  overcame  him, 
and  he  sank  back  on  the  cushions  and  fell  asleep. 
And  she  span  and  sang  until  the  morrow's  sun 
was  risen,  and  all  the  earth  awoke. 

44  Day  by  day  and  night  by  night  passed  on, 
and  closer  and  closer  drew  the  spell  about  the 
doomed  king.  He  entered  no  more  the  council- 
chamber,  where  his  great  officers  attended  in 
vain.  Embassies  from  distant  princes  were  kept 
ignominiously  waiting,  and  then  dismissed  with 
out  an  audience.  He  bowed  no  more  before  the 
altars  of  the  gods  ;  the  priests  were  forbidden  to 
enter  his  presence.  He  studied  no  longer  the 
welfare  of  his  people,  but  galled  them  with  taxes, 
and  oppressed  them  with  burdens,  that  he  might 
squander  the  revenues  of  a  province  upon  a 
single  feast.  For  now  there  was  nought  but 
endless  revelling  within  the  palace,  the  king 
striving  by  every  display  of  magnificence  to 
delight  the  Woman. 

"  Lapped  in  luxury,  sunk  in  sloth  he  lay,  while 
his  people  murmured  and  complained,  — at  first 
faintly,  then  louder  and  louder:  but  the  sound 
of  their  discontent,  ominous  like  the  distant  roar 
of  a  rising  flood,  reached  not  the  ear  of  the  king. 
He  listened  but  to  the  one  whispering  voice. 

44  So,  led  by  the  old  governor,  with  Belesis 


112  ARABESQUES. 

and  Arsaces,  the  great  lords  of  the  kingdom  took 
counsel  together. 

"  It  was  night.  The  city  below  was  hushed 
in  sleep.  The  cool  breeze  stole  whispering 
through  the  trees  and  flowers  of  the  hanging 
gardens  without,  and  brought  their  sweet  odors 
to  the  chamber  where  Sardanapalus  lay  sleeping. 
The  light  of  the  solitary  lamp  was  faintly  re 
flected  by  the  gilded  ceiling,  and  glanced  here 
and  there  on  the  projections  of  the  shadowy 
walls.  Beside  the  lamp  sat  the  Woman  in  her 
scarlet  robe,  spinning  bright  threads  of  gold, 
and  singing  the  unknown  rhyme.  From  time 
to  time  she  raised  her  head,  as  if  to  listen  to 
some  distant  sound.  At  last  she  smiled,  and 
bent  her  face  over  the  glittering  line  that  ran  fast 
between  her  fingers.  As  she  smiled,  an  invisible 
door  in  the  wall  behind  her  opened,  and  shrouded 
forms  crept  stealthily  forward.  As  they  neared 
her,  with  a  bound  they  sprang  noiselessly  upon 
her.  The  great  lords  of  the  kingdom  held  her 
in  a  stern  and  vengeful  grip. 

"  '  Hence  to  hell,  Accursed  One  ! '  said  the  old 
governor  ;  and  he  aimed  the  stroke  of  his  dagger 
at  her  breast. 

"  Slowly,  and  as  if  repelled  by  an  invisible 
force,  the  weapon  retreated  from  the  wound, 
and  fell  upon  the  floor  at  their  feet.  No  blood 


APOLLYONA.  113 


stained  its  shining  blade  ;  no  gash  marred  the 
smoothness  of  the  soft,  white  bosom  on  which, 
with  staring  eyes  and  blanched  faces,  the  great 
lords  stood  gazing.  The  Woman  laughed  low. 
At  the  sound,  they  shrank  close  to  each  other. 

"  *  It  were  easy  to  send  you  whence  ye  should 
never  return/  she  said ;  '  but  I  will  rather  that 
ye  tarry  yet  a  while  on  earth  to  behold  the  fulfil 
ment.  Now,  begone ! ' 

"  And,  like  dogs  cowering  under  the  lash  "  — 

Here  the  Witch  suddenly  stopped.  She  rose, 
and  turned  her  head  aside  in  the  attitude  of  one 
listening.  I  also  hearkened ;  but  I  could  hear 
nothing.  As  she  stood  thus,  her  eyes  gave  forth 
flashes  of  gleaming  light,  as  they  had  done  when 
she  had  first  perceived  me  on  the  plateau  at  mid 
night,  and  her  lips  parted  eagerly. 

u  Wait  for  me  awhile ;  I  will  not  tarry,"  she 
said. 

And,  as  she  spoke  the  words,  she  vanished 
from  my  sight.  The  garden  seemed  to  darken 
as  I  gazed  around. 

I  sat  I  know  not  how  long,  bewildered  and 
overcome  with  sudden  grief,  when  a  cloud  of  the 
strange  birds  flew  fluttering  towards  me,  and, 
settling  on  the  low  branches,  began  to  sing  with 
wonderful  trills  and  cadences,  all  in  harmony 
one  with  the  other.  But,  marvellous  as  was  the 
8 


114  ARABESQUES. 

song,  it  had  no  power  to  cheer  me ;  its  sound 
was  hard  and  false.  I  knew  that  no  sunlight 
gladdened  the  songsters,  that  no  warm  nests  re 
ceived  them,  that  no  loving  mates  awaited  them, 
no  downy  fledglings  claimed  their  care ;  and  I 
turned  impatiently  from  their  sweet,  unmeaning 
warbling. 

I  looked  upward  through  the  branches  of  the 
trees.  The  formless  void  above  filled  me  with 
drear  disquietude.  I  longed  to  see  once  more 
the  glad  light  of  the  sun,  the  soft  glory  of  the 
moon  and  stars. 

I  glanced  at  the  flowers.  Rigid  and  bold  they 
stared  at  me.  No  little  thrifty  bees  or  low  hum 
ming  insects  fed  from  their  empty  cups ;  no 
sweet  perfume  rose  incense-like  from  their  blos 
soms.  I  remembered  the  violets  and  lily-bells 
of  earth,  and  sighed  to  behold  them  again. 

I  grew  restless.  The  moments  seemed  to  fall 
like  lead  upon  me.  The  Witch  did  not  return. 
Fear  lest  she  had  deserted  me  seized  upon  me. 
I  felt  it  impossible  to  live  without  the  sight  of 
her  beauty  before  my  eyes,  the  sound  of  her  soft 
whispering  voice  in  my  ears.  The  gardens 
became  hateful  to  me.  I  determined  to  seek  for 
the  gate  of  the  treasury,  in  order  to  find  there 
some  amulet  whose  virtue  might  enable  me  to 
follow  her. 


APOLLYONA.  "5 


At  length  I  discovered  the  golden  door  where 
by  she  had  led  me  into  the  gardens,  and  I  again 
entered  the  treasury.  The  colossal  forms  of 
iron  stood  as  before  upon  their  pedestals,  and 
the  walls  and  vault  of  polished  steel  reflected 
the  myriad  fires  of  their  eyes. 

As  I  passed  along,  searching  for  the  charm  I 
coveted,  the  small  black  vial,  with  its  violet 
cloud  curling  upward,  again  met  my  sight.  My 
curiosity  returned  upon  me  tenfold.  I  took  it  in 
my  hand,  and  bent  my  face  over  it.  As  I  inhaled 
the  vapor,  I  started  and  recoiled.  So  pungent 
was  the  odor  that  my  sense  could  scarcely  endure 
it.  But  I  took  courage,  and  drew  it  strongly  in. 
The  violet  cloud  spread  around  me  higher  and 
higher,  broader  and  broader :  gradually  it  faded 
into  a  pale-gray  tint,  and  then  into  milky  white. 
It  opened  ;  and,  looking  as  into  a  magic  mirror, 
I  beheld  my  past  unrolled  before  me.  I  saw 
my  father's  castle,  the"  daisy-sprinkled  fields 
whereon  I  had  sported  when  a  child.  My  little 
playmates,  some  dead,  some  changed,  and  some 
forgotten,  passed  in  review  before  me  with  the 
cheery  laugh  and  open  brow  of  other  days.  I 
saw  my  father  in  his  shining  mail  again,  on  his 
roan  war-horse,  cross  the  drawbridge  the  last 
time  he  sallied  forth ;  and  again  my  mother  sat 
in  her  chamber  and  wept,  waiting  for  the  tidings 


Il6  ARABESQUES. 


that  never  came.  Again  I  saw  myself  the 
orphan  heir,  surrounded  by  flatterers  and  min 
ions,  thinking  only  of  what  pleasure  the  day 
might  bring,  caring  nothing  for  the  morrow. 
The  face  of  an  old  beggar  whom  I  had  repulsed 
looked  out  at  me  with  sorrowful  eyes.  Again 
he  stretched  forth  his  withered  hand  to  me  ;  but 
I  could  not  give  to  him,  —  the  time  had  passed. 

Then  I  beheld  myself  weaned  of  my  luxuri 
ous  and  thoughtless  life,  setting  forth,  a  knight- 
errant,  upon  my  quest.  I  saw  myself  climb  the 
mountains,  mindless  of  my  duty,  thinking  only 
of  the  Witch.  Once  more  I  lay  on  the  plateau 
at  midnight,  and  once  more  the  Witch  appeared  ; 
but  I  groaned  with  horror  as  I  looked  upon  her. 
It  was  a  skeleton  form  that  moved  softly  towards 
my  image  in  the  mirror ;  it  was  a  fleshless  hand 
that  conducted  me  down  the  flowery  descent 
into  the  magic  cave.  Shuddering  with  dread 
unspeakable,  I  saw  an*  knew  that  it  was  loath 
some,  pitiless  Death  that  I  had  followed. 

Still  I  gazed,  and  I  saw  all  that  had  befallen 
me  in  the  kingdom  of  the  Demons,  until  the 
mirror  showed  me  myself  as  I  then  stood.  For 
an  instant  darkness  covered  my  sight;  then  I 
saw  myself  raise  the  vial  to  my  lips  and  drink ; 
and  as  my  image  had  done,  so  also  I  raised  the 
vial  and  drank ;  and  I  knew  no  more  until  I 


APOLLYONA.  1 17 


found  myself  lying  at  the  foot  of  a  stone  cruci 
fix.  Around  me  were  stern  and  lofty  moun 
tains  ;  the  sun,  red  and  fiery,  was  sinking  into 
the  far  distance  of  the  western  main. 

As  the  remembrance  of  all  that  had  passed 
since  I  last  saw  the  light  of  day  rushed  over 
me,  I  covered  my  eyes  with  my  hands,  and 
groaned  aloud.  Shame,  remorse,  and  horror 
mingled  their  bitterness  in  one  seething  cup,  and 
held  it  to  my  shrinking  lips.  How  had  I  fallen  ! 
What  had  I  become  ! 

Since  then  five  years  have  passed  in  bitter 
penances  and  ceaseless  prayer.  I  feel  my  span 
of  life  fast  shrinking.  Soon  shall  I  cast  off 
the  heavy  burden  of  my  dreadful  past.  For, 
remembering  the  miracle  that  brought  me  up 
from  the  fearful  realm  wherein,  first  of  all 
mortals,  my  foot  has  trod,  I,  even  I,  most 
wretched  and  guilty  of  sinners,  dare  to  pray 
to  the  spotless  Mother  of  God  to  receive,  in 
that  last  hour  which  soon  must  come,  my  most 
miserable  soul. 


DOMITIA. 


D  O  M  I  T  I  A. 


WAS  born  in  a  far-distant 
land,  beside  the  Tiber,  upon 
one  of  the  seven  hills  of 
Rome.  My  father  was  the 
head  of  the  great  house  of 
the  Savelli ;  my  mother  was 
Geltrude  of  Milan.  I  was 
their  eldest  child.  Five  years  after  I  was  born, 
a  little  sister  came  into  the  world  ;  and  after  six 
more  of  waiting  and, of  prayers,  an  heir  was 
born,  to  my  parents'  great  relief,  and  to  the  joy 
of  the  whole  house,  and,  indeed,  I  may  say  of 
all  Rome  ;  for  it  would  have  been  felt  as  a  mis 
fortune  to  the  city  had  so  ancient  a  house  become 
extinct. 

The  Pope  sent  his  chamberlain  to  congratulate 
my  father,  and  to  bear  a  precious  jewel  with  his 


122 


ARABESQUES. 


benediction  to  my  mother  ;  and  my  father  feasted 
the  poor  of  the  city  for  six  successive  days. 

From  that  time,  the  happiness  of  the  palazzo 
was  without  a  cloud.  I  look  back  upon  the 
ensuing  years  as  does  a  prisoner  upon  the  re 
membrance  of  green  hills,  and  smiling  gardens, 
and  blue,  open  skies. 

I  was  always  a  grave  and  thoughtful  child, 
and  my  spirits  had  hitherto  been  secretly  de 
pressed  by  the  reflection  that  it  was  my  duty  to 
have  been  a  boy ;  but  now  I  became  reconciled 
to  my  sex,  and  when  I  sat  beside  my  mother, 
and  watched  her  as  she  played  with  my  little 
laughing  brother,  I  felt  as  much  happiness  as  a 
child's  heart  can  contain. 

My  sister  was  very  unlike  myself.  She  was 
a  fair  and  frolicsome  child,  the  favorite  of  all 
who  saw  us,  as  indeed  it  was  but  right  that  she 
should  be,  for  she  was  far  more  gay  and  mirthful 
than  I  had  ever  been.  But  our  mother  never 
showed  any  partiality  between  us.  She  seemed 
to  love  me  as  well  as  she  did  my  sister ;  and, 
even  when  the  heir  was  born,  it  diminished  in 
nothing  her  tenderness  and  care. 

We  saw  but  little  of  our  father.  He  was 
always  busied  in  weighty  matters,  or  engaged 
in  the  civil  feuds  which  desolated  the  city.  He 
was  a  man  of  proud  and  distant  bearing,  and 


DOMITIA. 


123 


we  feared  more  than  we  loved  him.  Our  affec 
tion  was  lavished  on  our  mother.  As  I  look 
back  upon  her,  I  thank  God  for  the  inestimable 
blessing  of  having  been  tended  and  nurtured  by 
one  so  like  to  an  angel. 

We  lived  in  Rome  during  the  winter,  but, 
during  the  summer,  at  our  castle  above  the 
Alban  Lake.  It  was  always  a  season  of  rejoic 
ing  to  my  sister  and  myself  when  we  saw  the 
long  line  of  covered  carts  which  bore  our  house 
hold  gear,  escorted  by  their  mounted  guard, 
issue  from  the  massive  gate  of  our  palace  in 
Rome,  and  wind  its  way  across  the  Campagna, 
towards  our  summer  stronghold ;  for,  when  we 
were  at  Rome,  our  parents  lived  in  great  state 
and  ceremony.  There  were  constant  entertain 
ments  to  be  given  or  to  be  attended,  and  we  saw 
our  mother  but  at  rare  intervals.  We  were  left 
much  to  the  care  of  our  nurse  Flavia.  She  had 
been  my  father's  foster-mother,  and  held  dearer 
than  aught  else  the  renown  and  glory  of  our 
house.  She  used,  in  the  long  winter  evenings, 
while  we  sat  round  the  lamp,  to  tell  us  stories 
of  the  ancient  deeds  of  our  forefathers,  and  of 
the  beauty  and  grace  of  our  ancestresses.  Some 
times  she  would  mingle  with  these  histories 
legends  wild  and  fearful  of  the  former  masters 
of  the  city,  until  we  scarcely  dared  to  draw  our 


124  ARABESQUES. 

breath,  and  would  be  undressed  and  laid  in  our 
beds,  silent  and  shivering  with  dread.  Those 
were  happy  evenings,  when  our  mother  would 
send  for  us  to  come  to  her  tiring-room,  and 
would  talk  to  us  while  her  women  braided  her 
long  hair,  and  adorned  it  with  jewels  and  strings 
of  pearls,  and  while  they  attired  her  in  her  mag 
nificent  robes ;  but  she  had  little  time  for  us, 
and  often  she  would  whisper,  as  she  kissed  me 
good-night,  — 

"Courage,  Leonora  mia !  the  summer  will 
soon  come." 

And  she  was  as  happy  as  were  my  sister  and 
myself,  when  she  could  leave  all  the  pomp  of 
the  city,  and  retire  with  us  to  the  hills  of  Gan- 
dolfo,  where  we  were  together  all  the  day  long, 
and  no  vexatious  festival  called  her  from  us  at 
night. 

She  would  sit  at  her  embroidery-frame  in  the 
great  window  that  overlooked  the  Campagna ; 
and  Cecilia  and  I  would  sit  on  our  little 
cushions  at  her  feet,  and  she  would  teach  us 
many  things,  all  made  sweet  to  us  by  her  gentle 
smile  and  loving  voice.  Then,  when  the  heat 
of  the  day  was  past,  she  would  wander  along 
the  slopes  of  the  hills  around,  leading  us  by  the 
hand,  or  sit  on  some  mossy  stone  while  we  wove 
coronals  of  flowers  to  deck  her  fair  white  brow. 


DOMITIA.  125 


I  have,  never  seen  anyone  so  beautiful  as  was 
my  mother. 

Around  the  outer  wall  of  the  castle,  between 
the  terrace  and  the  moat,  were  small  grated 
windows  which  communicated  with  the  dun 
geons  below.  It  was  one  of  the  great  pleasures 
of  my  sister  and  myself,  to  save  the  daintiest 
portion  of  our  daily  fare,  then  to  creep  with  it 
to  the  terrace,  and  throw  it  stealthily  down  to 
the  prisoners,  running  away  as  fast  as  we  could 
for  fear  that  the  guards  would  see  us. 

We  fancied  that  they  never  guessed  our 
errand ;  but  doubtless  they  had  orders  from  our 
mother  not  to  interfere  with  us. 

One  day  we  had  saved  some  apricots,  and  had 
stolen  softly  with  them  to  the  grating  of  the 
dungeon  of  an  old  man,  who  was  our  especial 
favorite.  As  we  peeped  down,  he  saw  us  ;  and, 
joining  his  hands,  in  the  dim  twilight  below,  he 
implored  us  by  all  that  we  loved  best  to  hasten 
away,  and  tell  our  father  that  he  had  found  that 
which  was  worth  his  ransom  a  thousand  times 
over. 

We  dared  not  attempt  to  approach  our  father, 
who  then  chanced  to  be  on  one  of  his  rare  visits 
to  the  castle ;  but  we  ran  to  our  mother,  and 
told  her  all.  She  went  immediately  to  our 
father,  and,  as  we  learned  afterwards  from  our 


126  ARABESQUES. 


nurse  Flavia,  requested  leave  to  send  her  leech 
to  the  old  prisoner.  Our  father,  supposing  him 
stricken  with  illness,  consented ;  and  she  forth 
with  despatched  the  leech  —  a  wise  and  prudent 
man,  in  whom  she  had  great  confidence  —  to 
the  prisoner. 

As  he  followed  the  keeper  of  the  dungeons 
down  the  damp  and  narrow  stone  steps,  they 
heard  fearful  shrieks  issuing  from  the  old  man's 
cell.  They  made  all  the  haste  they  could  ;  but, 
ere  the  keeper  could  undo  the  heavy  fastenings 
of  the  door,  the  sounds  had  ceased.  When  they 
entered,  the  old  prisoner  was  lying  on  his  back ; 
his  glazing  eyes  were  staring  wide  in  horror ; 
his  features  were  frightfully  distorted.  They 
sought  to  raise  him.  He  was  dead. 

The  dungeon  was  thoroughly  searched,  but 
nothing  was  found  there.  This  event  greatly 
distressed  and  terrified  my  sister  and  myself, 
and  it  was  long  before  we  had  the  courage  to 
pass  that  side  of  the  terrace ;  and  when  the 
night  was  closing  in,  and  the  wind  waved  the 
trees  in  the  castle-garden,  we  often  used  to  fancy 
that  we  heard  the  death  moans  of  the  old  pris 
oner,  and  would  whisper  ghastly  guesses  to  each 
other  of  the  cause  of  his  mysterious  end. 

But  years  passed  on  ;  and  little  by  little  we 
forgot,  as  children  do,  to  speak  or  to  think  of 


DOMITIA.  127 


the  old  prisoner ;  little  dreaming  how  fearfully 
he  was  to  be  recalled  to  our  memories,  and 
with  what  shudderings  of  terror  and  anguish 
we  were  to  receive  the  key  to  that  buried  mys 
tery. 

But  I  must  not  tarry.  It  was  the  summer 
time.  Early  one  morning  my  mother  and  myself, 
mounted  on  our  Spanish  jennets,  and  attended 
by  our  escort,  left  the  castle  for  a  canter  around 
the  lake,  and  through  the  cool  and  leafy  galleries 
which  lead  over  the  hills  towards  the  villages 
beyond.  We  were  talking  and  laughing  gayly, 
as  we  circled  the  hollow  cup  in  whose  depths 
lie  the  placid  waters  of  the  lake,  when  suddenly, 
from  amidst  the  ruins  of  the  Emperor's  villa, 
which  my  great  grandfather  had  destroyed  in 
order  to  build  the  fortress,  rose  a  kestrel.  It 
soared  high  into  the  air  above  our  heads ;  then, 
dropping  like  a  stone,  it  alighted  on  the  head  of 
my  mother's  horse,  and  pecked  furiously  at  its 
eyes. 

The  blinded  animal,  maddened  by  pain  and 
fright,  plunged  wildly  to  and  fro,  unwitting 
whither  it  went ;  then,  just  as  my  mother  was 
freeing  her  foot  from  the  stirrup,  in  order  to  leap 
from  its  back,  it  sprang  towards  the  precipitous 
bank,  tottered,  and  rolled  down  the  steep  decliv 
ity,  bearing  her  with  it. 


128  ARABESQUES. 

I  cannot  dwell  on  this  great  anguish.  Few 
words  must  suffice  me  now. 

She  was  borne  to  the  castle,  and  laid  upon 
her  bed.  She  still  breathed  faintly;  but  we 
knew  that  her  hour  had  come.  Mercifully,  her 
consciousness  did  not  return.  She  was  spared 
the  last  farewell. 

We  knelt,  weeping  and  praying,  about  the 
bed,  until  the  leech,  who  had  his  hand  upon  her 
pulse,  laid  it  down  reverently  by  her  side.  Then 
our  sobs  and  tears  broke  forth  unrestrained  ;  and 
the  priest  advanced  to  bless  her  lifeless  clay. 
But,  as  he  stood  before  her,  her  eyelids  were 
suddenly  lifted,  revealing  a  look  so  fierce,  so 
haughty,  that  he  started  back  in  terror.  We 
sprang  to  our  feet,  and  crowded  around  her. 
With  an  impatient  motion  of  her  hand  she 
waved  us  away,  and,  slowly  rising,  stood  upon 
her  feet. 

She  cast  her  eyes  gloomily  around  her,  then 
walked  to  her  inner  room,  entered,  and  closed 
the  door. 

My  sister  and  myself  stood  gazing  in  conster 
nation  upon  each  other.  Could  this  indeed  be 
our  gentle,  gracious  mother?  Had  she  been 
snatched  from  the  jaws  of  death  to  be  given 
back  to  us  thus  changed? 

The  priest  was  the  first  to  speak.     He  ap- 


DOMITIA.  129 


preached  us,  and,  in  an  uncertain  and  troubled 
tone,  begged  us  to  come,  with  all  the  household, 
to  the  chapel,  there  to  give  thanks  for  our 
mother's  preservation.  White  and  anxious,  we 
obeyed. 

The  chapel  was  but  dimly  lighted  by  its  nar 
row  windows,  cut  high  in  the  walls.  Before 
the  altar  burned  four  great  waxen  tapers.  The 
air  was  so  damp  —  for  the  chapel  was  partly 
under-ground  —  that  each  candle  seemed  sur 
rounded  by  a  small,  yellow  cloud. 

The  priest  began  to  recite  the  consecrated 
words  of  thanksgiving,  but  his  face  was  pale, 
and  his  voice  trembled  as  it  left  his  lips ;  and 
the  responses  of  the  assembled  household,  kneel 
ing  before  him,  rose  on  the  chilly  air  like 
groans. 

When  the  service  of  thanksgiving  was  over, 
I  took  my  sister's  hand,  and  went  with  her  to 
the  door  of  our  mother's  apartments.  We 
knocked  softly.  She  did  not  answer.  We  tried 
the  lock ;  it  was  fastened  from  within.  We 
listened.  We  heard  a  faint,  tapping  sound.  It 
ceased,  then  re-commenced.  It  seemed  to  come 
from  different  parts  of  the  chamber  in  turn. 
There  was  something  in  the  sound  that  fright 
ened  us  still  more.  The  servants  gradually 
assembled  at  a  little  distance  from  us.  They, 
9 


130  ARABESQUES. 

too,  heard  the  low  sound.  They  whispered  to 
each  other  below  their  breath. 

At  last  the  hour  of  the  mid-day  meal  sounded  ; 
and  the  maestro  di  casa,  with  his  wand,  came 
to  announce  to  my  mother,  as  was  his  office, 
that  she  was  served. 

As  he  ended,  the  sound  ceased ;  then,  after  a 
little  pause,  the  door  was  thrown  open,  and  our 
mother  appeared  on  the  threshold.  She  seemed 
to  tower  above  our  heads,  so  haughty  was  her 
bearing.  Her  eyes,  once  so  soft,  had  now  a 
cold  and  cruel  stare ;  her  lips,  whose  wont  it 
was  to  be  so  smiling,  were  now  compressed  and 
stern.  She  moved  on  with  a  stately  step,  pass 
ing  my  sister  and  myself  without  a  glance.  We 
followed  her,  as  she  swept  slowly  down  the 
corridor,  and  timidly  took  our  accustomed  places 
beside  her  at  the  table.  She  frowned. 

"  Draw  back,  ye  little  apes,"  she  said.  And, 
the  tears  streaming  down  our  cheeks,  we  rose, 
and  took  our  seats  at  the  foot  of  the  table. 

Our  mother  looked  with  a  mixture  of  curiosity 
and  disgust  upon  the  viands  on  the  table.  There 
was  only  one  dish  that  she  tasted.  It  was 
composed  of  lampreys  stewed  with  honey  and 
spices ;  and  the  manner  of  its  preparation  was 
a  secret  handed  down  among  the  servants  of  the 
credenza. 


DOMITIA.  131 


She  demanded  Falernian  wine  to  drink ;  nor 
did  she  once  touch  to  her  lips  the  water  which 
formed  her  habitual  beverage. 

o 

When  the  meal  was  ended,  —  Cecilia  and 
myself  had  eaten  nothing,  —  our  mother  rose, 
and  returned  to  her  own  apartments. 

My  sister  and  myself  had  no  longer  courage  to 
follow  her.  We  went  to  the  room  which  we 
shared  together,  and  there  abandoned  ourselves 
to  all  the  agony  of  our  grief. 

When  we  grew  calmer,  and  I  was  able  to 
reflect,  I  came  to  the  conclusion  that  this  sud 
den  and  unaccountable  change  in  our  mother 
must  be  the  result  of  the  shock  she  had  re 
ceived  ;  and,  after  bathing  my  eyes,  and  com 
posing  my  demeanor,  I  ordered  the  leech  to  be 
summoned. 

He  had  lived  in  the  castle  ever  since  I  was  a 
child  ;  and  I  had  a  great  affection  for  him.  But, 
when  he  appeared,  with  his  kind  and  compas 
sionate  look,  I  knew  not  how  to  frame  the  ques 
tions  I  wished  to  ask.  My  sister  sat  weeping 
by  my  side,  and  her  affliction  gradually  melted 
away  all  my  self-command ;  and  I  began  to 
weep  also,  not  having  been  able  to  say  a 
word. 

"  My  gracious  young  lady,"  he  said  at  length, 
seeing  me  incapable  of  explaining  why  I  had 


132  ARABESQUES. 

summoned  him,  and  knowing  but  too  well  the 
cause,  "  let  not  your  mind  be  disturbed  by  the 
contemplation  of  a  phenomenon  which,  in  its 
nature,  is  but  temporary.  The  vital  spirits  of 
the  Princess  have  received  so  great  a  shock  as  to 
be  for  the  moment  displaced ;  and  those  which 
belong  to  the  spleen  and  the  liver  have  gone  to 
the  brain.  But  this  disturbance  is  accidental ; 
and  the  balance  will  soon  be  restored  by  the 
healing  power  of  Nature.  Meantime,  I  ear 
nestly  pray  you,  that  your  affection  for  the  Prin 
cess,  your  mother,  may  not  incline  you  to  lay 
too  much  stress  upon  any  casual  differences  in 
her  deportment ;  for  it  is  not  to  her  daughter 
that  I  need  say,  that  God  never  before  assembled 
such  a  multitude  of  excellent  and  lovely  graces 
in  a  human  form  as  he  has  deigned  to  show  to 
the  world  in  the  person  of  that  most  exalted 
lady,  your  mother." 

Having  said  this,  and  perceiving  me  to  be 
somewhat  comforted  by  his  words,  the  leech 
withdrew. 

But,  alas !  neither  the  morrow  nor  the  next 
day,  nor  all  the  days  that  followed,  saw  the 
hoped-for  change  in  our  mother.  We  seemed 
to  be  living  in  a  dream  ;  our  former  life  had  dis 
appeared,  and,  with  it,  all  our  pleasures  and 
happiness  were  gone.  No  more  did  we  sit  at 


DOMITIA.  133 


her  feet,  and  learn  wisdom  from  her  gentle  lips  ; 
no  more  did  we  wander  by  her  side  over  the 
green  hills,  no  more  weave  gay  flowers  into  gar 
lands  to  deck  her  head.  We  were  forbidden 
to  approach  her  presence ;  and,  did  she  ever 
chance  to  meet  us  wandering  disconsolately 
through  the  silent  corridors,  she  would  scowl 
at  us,  and  bid  us  to  our  chamber.  On  our  little 
brother  only  did  she  ever  smile  ;  but,  strange  to 
say,  the  child,  who  had  hitherto  adored  her, 
now  shrieked  whenever  he  was  brought  before 
her,  giving  every  sign  of  the  utmost  terror  and 
dislike. 

She  never  confessed  nor  went  to  mass.  She 
was  imperious  and  exacting  towards  everybody ; 
so  difficult  to  please,  that  her  women  trembled 
whenever  their  duties  summoned  them  to  attend 
her.  But  the  greater  part  of  the  time  she  spent 
shut  up  alone  in  her  apartments ;  and  then  again 
was  constantly  heard  the  same  low  tapping. 

So  weeks  passed  on,  each  day  seeming  more 
dreadful  than  the  last.  My  little  sister  pined  and 
faded  ;  her  gayety  was  all  gone.  She  would  sit 
silent,  hour  after  hour,  looking  on  the  ground, 
the  tears  stealing  down  her  cheeks,  until  I  would 
take  her  in  my  arms,  and  we  would  weep  to 
gether. 

Our  father  was  away,  warring  with  the  Pope 


134  ARABESQUES. 

against  Venice ;  the  old  priest  had  no  comfort 
to  give  us  ;  the  leech,  when  we  questioned  him, 
only  shook  his  head,  and  bade  us  pray  and  try 
to  hope.  We  prayed,  earnestly  and  constantly  ; 
but  we  had  lost  the  power  to  hope. 

I  have  said  that  my  mother  never  confessed 
nor  heard  the  mass ;  but  something  even  more 
dreadful  I  discovered1  at  this  time. 

In  one  of  the  great  halls  of  the  castle,  among 
the  ancient  statues  ranged  along  the  walls,  was 
a  small  bronze  figure  of  Mercury,  greatly  prized 
by  our  father  because  of  its  delicate  workman 
ship,  and  the  precious  jewels  which  formed  its 
eyes.  One  day  this  disappeared,  nor  could  any 
one  tell  what  had  become  of  it.  It  was  in  its 
accustomed  place  at  night,  and  in  the  morning 
it  was  gone.  There  was  great  grief  and  distress 
through  the  castle  at  its  loss ;  for  all  the  servants 
and  retainers  feared  that  they  might  be  suspected 
of  having  stolen  it. 

Among  the  changed  habits  of  our  mother  was 
this,  —  she  would  allow  no  one  to  enter  her  ora 
tory.  She  would  often  shut  herself  up  there, 
and  sing  strange  songs  that  we  had  never  heard 
before.  The  priest  was  one  day  passing,  and  he 
stayed  to  listen  ;  but  all  at  once  he  crossed  him 
self,  stopped  his  ears,  and  hastened  away.  He 
forbade  any  one  in  the  castle,  for  the  future,  to 


DOMITIA.  135 


pass  through  that  gallery ;    nor  would  he  ever 
tell  what  it  was  that  he  had  heard. 

One  day  Flavia  came  to  me  with  her  finger 
upon  her  lips,  and  whispered  to  me  to  follow  her. 
She  led  me  to  a  room  in  which  the  linen  was 
kept.  It  was  built  in  a  projecting  angle  of  the 
court-yard,  and  on  one  side  was  a  high,  lozenge- 
shaped  window.  She  bads'  me  mount  upon  a 
table  under  this  window,  and  look  out.  I  did 
as  she  told  me,  and  saw  that  the  window  com 
manded  across  the  court-yard  a  view  of  the 
interior  of  my  mother's  oratory.  But  all  within 
was  changed.  The  great  ebony  crucifix  lay 
on  the  ground ;  the  picture  of  St.  Catherine  of 
Sienna,  on  which  I  had  gazed  with  reverence 
ever  since  my  infancy,  had  been  torn  down ;  the 
bowl  of  holy  water  had  disappeared ;  and  the 
books  of  devotion  were  cast  in  a  heap  on  one 
side.  In  the  centre  of  the  room,  upon  an  antique 
altar  of  carved  ivory,  which  had  formerly  served 
my  mother  as  a  stand  for  flowers,  stood  the  little 
bronze  statue  of  Mercury ;  and  before  it  was  a 
basket  containing  a  piece  of  honeycomb,  and 
a  vase  filled  with  what  looked  like  milk.  My 
mother  sat  in  front  of  the  statue.  I  saw  her  lips 
moving,  but  I  could  hear  nothing ;  the  distance 
was  too  great. 

As  I  gazed  upon  this  unexpected  sight,  the 


136  ARABESQUES. 


room  grew  indistinct,  and  every  thing  seemed 
wavering  about  me.  Then  I  felt  old  Flavia's 
arms  clasp  me ;  and  the  next  thing  I  knew  I 
was  lying  on  the  floor,  and  she  was  rubbing  my 
hands. 

When  I  recovered,  I  remained  for  a  while  as 
if  stunned.  I  could  scarcely  bring  myself  to 
believe  that  the  pious  hands,  which  had  so  often 
clasped  my  own,  and  held  them  up  in  suppli 
cation  to  the  holy  Virgin  and  the  blessed  Jesus, 
had  prepared  that  pagan  offering,  and  performed 
those  sacrilegious  rites ;  that  those  pure  lips, 
whose  daily  wont  it  had  been  to  chant  sweet 
hymns  of  gratitude  and  praise,  could  be  per 
verted  to  the  deadly  sin  of  breathing  forth 
adoration  to  a  heathen  god  of  bronze.  The 
horrible  thought  that  my  mother  had  forfeited 
her  salvation,  that  her  soul  was  for  ever  lost, 
filled  me  with  unutterable  grief  and  terror. 

When  I  could  speak,  I  bade  Flavia,  who  was 
rapidly  telling  her  beads,  say  what  cause  she 
could  imagine  for  all  that  was  so  dreadful  and 
so  strange.  And  she,  looking  fearfully  around, 
said  that  not  only  she  herself,  but  all  the  house 
hold,  were  persuaded  that  her  mistress  had  been 
bewitched  by  the  kestrel ;  and  that  old  Rinaldino 
was  watching  night  and  day,  hidden  among  the 
bushes  by  the  lake,  hoping  to  bring  it  down  with 


DOMITIA.  137 


his  cross-bow.  For,  that  if  it  were  killed  and 
cooked,  and  my  mother  should  eat  but  the  tiniest 
morsel  of  its  flesh,  the  enchantment  would  be 
broken,  and  she  would  become  as  she  was 
before. 

But,  although  Flavia's  faith  in  the  bewitch 
ment  was  firm,  I  was  not  persuaded ;  nor  did 
old  Rinaldino  ever  bring  home  the  kestrel,  so 
that  the  experiment  could  never  be  tried. 

I  made  Flavia  promise  that  she  would  tell  no 
one  of  the  unholy  rites  in  my  mother's  oratory ; 
and  she  kept  her  word.  It  remained  a  secret, 
known  but  to  us  two  alone. 

The  strange  tappings,  which  so  constantly 
sounded  from  my  mother's  apartments,  at  length 
ceased,  to  our  great  relief;  for,  incessant  though 
they  had  been,  none  of  the  household  could  ever 
become  accustomed  to  the  sounds,  and  they  con 
tinually  alarmed  every  one.  But,  after  a  few 
days  of  quiet,  our  mother  ordered  another  suite 
of  rooms  on  the  same  side  of  the  house  to  be 
prepared  for  her,  and  she  took  possession  of 
them  when  they  were  ready.  No  sooner  was 
she  established  in  her  new  apartments,  than  the 
strange,  tapping  sound  began  again,  greatly  dis 
turbing  all  in  the  castle.  Once  the  priest  came 
in  his  consecrated  robes,  and  brought  holy  water, 
and  sprinkled  it  on  the  door,  and  said  the  awful 


138  ARABESQUES. 


form  of  exorcism ;  but  the  faint,  unremitting 
tappings  went  on  all  the  while,  and  continued 
after  he  had  ceased  ;  and  he  went  away  shaking 
his  head. 

So  time  went  on.  One  night  I  could  not 
sleep.  My  sister  and  myself  had  always  of  late 
retired  at  sundown.  It  was  less  painful  to  be  in 
our  own  room  together,  than  to  be  wandering  in 
the  great  unlighted  halls  below,  or  standing  at 
the  door  of  our  mother's  apartment,  never  opened 
to  us  now.  Cecilia  was  quietly  sleeping  by  my 
side ;  but  I  was  lying  plunged  in  mournful 
thought,  when  I  heard  some  one  enter  the  room 
beside  us,  —  old  Flavia's.  The  door  leading 
into  our  chamber  was  ajar,  and  I  heard  all  that 
passed. 

"What!  are  you  already  a-bed,  Flavia  mia?" 
said  the  voice  of  Caterina,  one  of  my  mother's 
tiring-women.  "  Much  peace  may  you  find 
there  !  Know  ye  not  that  now-a-days  the  whole 
household  is  afraid  to  sleep?  Half  of  us  watch, 
while  the  other  half  take  their  rest.  Who  knows 
what  may  happen,  any  night,  ere  morning? 
And  the  days  are  bad  enough,  the  saints  know. 
What  think  you !  yesterday,  as  I  was  braiding 
the  Princess's  hair,  I  did  not  arrange  it  to  suit 
her,  and  she  caught  up  the  long  golden  bodkin 
which  lay  on  the  table  before  her,  and  plunged 


DOMITIA.  139 


it  a  full  inch  into  my  breast,  and  she  menaced 
Camilla  with  being  thrown  into  the  lake  to  feed 
the  fishes  because  she  fastened  on  a  bow  awry." 

"Heaven  defend  us!"  exclaimed  Flavia. 
"  Surely  we  have  need  to  pray  that  old  Rinaldino 
may  speedily  bring  down  the  kestrel,  to  end  this 
accursed  spell." 

"  Of  course  we  do,"  replied  Caterina.  "We 
pray  morning,  noon,  and  night.  It  is  no  time  to 
neglect  the  saints  when  people  are  in  danger  of 
their  lives." 

"  But  tell  me,  what  was  it  about  the  merchant 
yesterday  ?  "  inquired  Flavia.  "  I  was  here  with 
my  gracious  young  ladies,  and  saw  and  heard 
nothing." 

"It  was  strange  enough!"  answered  the 
tiring-woman.  "  The  Princess  saw  him  from 
her  window,  as  he  entered  the  court-yard,  and 
ordered  that  he  should  bring  his  goods  to  her. 
She  tossed  them  over  scornfully,  though  he  had 
the  most  exquisite  head-tires,  and  silks,  and  vel 
vets  for  bodices,  and  laces  and  embroideries, 
that  were  ever  seen ;  nor  would  she  allow  the 
poor  man  to  say  a  word  in  praise  of  his  wares. 
At  his  first  sentence,  she  fastened  such  a  look 
upon  ""him  that  he  stammered  and  drew  back, 
and  stood  mute,  until  she  asked  him  what  it  was 
that  he  had  in  a  drawer  that  he  had  not  opened. 


140  ARABESQUES. 

He  said  that  it  was  something  he  had  bought 
from  a  peasant,  —  an  antique  lyre.  She  com 
manded  him  to  show  it  instantly ;  and  he  pro 
duced  a  discolored  piece  of  ivory,  curiously 
carved  with  eagles'  heads  and  foliage  work,  with 
all  the  strings  gone.  The  Princess  immediately 
bought  it,  and  ordered  him  to  carry  away  all 
the  rest  of  his  merchandise  ;  and  she  forthwith 
despatched  a  messenger  to  Rome,  for  a  gold 
smith,  and  commanded  that  he  should  bring 
gold  wire ;  and  he  has  been  at  work  all  to 
day." 

As  she  spoke,  a  strain  of  music  floated  up 
through  the  open  window,  so  strange  in  its  in 
tonations  that  I  had  never  listened  to  the  like  ; 
and  I  heard  from  below  my  mother's  voice, 
singing  in  cadence ;  but  I  could  not  catch  the 
words.  It  was  a  low,  irregular  chant,  at  times 
swelling  into  a  fierce,  vindictive  wail.  My  flesh 
crept  as  I  lay  hearkening  to  it. 

"  Holy  Virgin  !  whoever  heard  such  sounds  as 
those?"  exclaimed  Caterina,  in  affright.  "  How 
shall  I  ever  dare  to  go  through  the  corridors  to 
my  own  room  !  Thank  Heaven  that  it  is  not 
my  night  to  disrobe  the  Princess.  I  would  rather 
walk  barefoot  over  red-hot  ploughshares.  ^But  I 
must  go.  The  longer  I  tarry  the  more  afraid 
I  shall  be." 


DOMITIA.  141 


And  I  heard  her  timid  foot-fall  die  along  the 
echoing  length  of  the  gallery. 

The  strange  measure  ceased  after  a  while,  but 
still  I  could  not  sleep.  Midnight  tolled  from  the 
great  watch-tower,  and  still  I  had  not  closed  my 
eyes,  when  I  fancied  I  heard  a  muffled  tread 
passing  along  the  corrider.  I  sat  up  in  bed,  and 
distinctly  saw  a  gleam  of  light  shoot  along  the 
ground,  shining  from  beneath  my  door.  I  rose 
hurriedly,  threw  a  robe  over  my  shoulders,  and, 
when  I  could  no  longer  hear  the  footsteps  nor 
see  the  light,  I  noiselessly  unclosed  the  door  and 
passed  out  into  the  gallery. 

I  followed  softly  the  direction  the  footsteps 
had  taken  ;  at  length  I  saw  a  faint  beam  before 
me.  Still  more  cautiously  I  pursued  my  way. 
I  tracked  it  to  the  chapel.  I  paused  and  looked 
in  as  I  gained  the  door.  The  chapel  was  empty. 
The  moonbeams  streamed  down  from  the  narrow 
and  lofty  windows,  and  showed  a  black  opening 
before  the  altar,  where  a  stone  had  been  raised 
and  laid  aside.  I  advanced  and  looked  down. 
At  my  feet,  I  saw  a  rapidly  descending  passage. 
The  faint  light  of  the  moonbeams  showed  but 
its  opening,  then  it  lost  itself  in  utter  darkness. 

I  drew  back  an  instant,  then,  with  a  prayer  to 
the  blessed  Madonna  to  protect  me,  I  entered  the 
subterranean  way.  I  was  obliged  to  grope  my 


142  ARABESQUES. 

steps,  holding  by  the  side  wall,  for  I  could  see 
nothing.  I  walked  in  this  manner  a  long  while, 
always  going  deeper  and  deeper  into  the  earth, 
as  I  perceived  by  the  rapidly  descending  slope. 
At  length  I  saw  from  below  a  faint,  grayish  light. 
I  pressed  on,  and  finally  arrived  at  the  extremity 
of  the  passage. 

Hidden  myself,  I  looked  without.  Before  me 
lay  the  calm,  still  waters  of  the  lake.  Between 
rose  the  crumbling  foundations  of  Domitian's 
villa,  with  scattered  blocks  of  stone  heaped  upon 
one  another,  half-covered  by  rank  weeds  and 
clambering  vines.  But  my  eye  rested  only  an 
instant  on  these.  There  was  that  before  my 
sight  which  riveted  it. 

Upon  a  broken  column,  the  moonlight  shining 
full  upon  her,  sat  my  mother.  On  the  ground 
before  her  crouched  a  withered,  witch-like  form. 

"  Speak,  counsel  me !  "  said  my  mother,  in 
the  harsh,  commanding  tones  now  habitual  to 
her.  "  Ye  were  crafty  once;  at  my  behest  be 
crafty  yet  again." 

"  Yes,  once,"  answered  the  croaking  voice  of 
the  hag ;  "  but  how  can  I  now  propitiate  him 
who  inspires  with  craft?  His  temples  are  ruins, 
his  altars  are  cast  down." 

"  Not  all,"  replied  my  mother.  "  Milk  and 
honey  still  send  up  their  pleasant  odors  to  his 


DOMITIA.  143 


nostrils.  Mercury,  O  favorable  god,  listen  and 
hear !  " 

And  she  clasped  her  hands,  and  looked  up 
ward  to  the  silent  sky. 

I  pressed  tightly  on  my  heart  to  still  its  throb- 
bings,  and  bent  my  ear  again. 

"  Ye  have  searched  in  the  private  chambers  so 
far  with  no  reward,"  said  the  old  woman  ;  "yet 
ye  are  certain  that  it  lies  towards  the  north?  " 

u  Most  certain,"  replied  my  mother.  "  He 
would  not  dare  deceive  me." 

"  And  ye  have  by  night  sounded  the  walls 
and  floor  of  the  halls  below,  and  still  have  found 
nothing?  " 

"  Ye  know  it,"  answered  my  mother,  in  her 
imperious  voice. 

The  hag  sunk  her  head  upon  her  knees,  and 
pondered  awhile  in  silence.  Then  she  rose, 
gathered  up  some  pebbles,  which  she  carefully 
examined,  rejecting  many,  and  replacing  them 
with  others.  This  done,  she  climbed  upon  a 
heap  of  stones  that  rose  out  of  the  lake,  and, 
repeating  a  low  chant,  threw  them  in,  one  by 
one.  The  last  fell  from  her  hand.  There  was 
silence  ;  then,  mournfully  rising  from  the  oppo 
site  bank  of  the  lake,  came  the  cry  of  an  owl. 
The  creature  hooted  three  times,  then  twice, 
and  again  once. 


144  ARABESQUES. 


The  hag  chuckled,  and,  rubbing  her  hands 
together,  returned  to  my  mother,  who  still  sat 
on  the  ruined  column. 

"  Ye  heard,"  she  said.  "  Did  you  under 
stand?" 

"  I  heard,"  replied  my  mother  ;  "  but  am  I  a 
loathsome  witch,  to  understand?" 

"  Nay,  great  as  ye  are,  ye  have  need  of 
old  Catta,"  rejoined  the  old  woman,  laughing 
hideously. 

"  Cease  prating,  and  expound  to  me,"  said 
my  mother,  scowling. 

"  Look  in  the  dungeons,  O  august  one ! " 
answered  her  companion.  "  Minerva  herself 
assures  you  that  you  shall  find  it  there." 

My  mother  rose. 

"  I'll  reckon  with  you,  sorceress,  should  you 
have  told  me  false." 

"  Nay,  mighty  one,"  whined  the  hag,  "  have 
I  not  many  a  time  merited  and  received  reward 
from  those  hands?  Have  ye  forgotten  who  it 
was  that,  when  Domitian  "  — 

"  Hush ! "  interrupted  my  mother,  stamping 
her  foot  and  clenching  her  hand  ;  "  ye  make  me 
wish  for  that  same  dagger  now." 

The  hag  cowered  down  among  the  stones, 
and  my  mother  turned  away  towards  the  en 
trance  of  the  subterranean  passage. 


DOMITIA.  145 


As  I  saw  her  coming  towards  me,  I  felt  every 
limb  turn  into  ice ;  then  the  blood  made  a  rush 
in  my  veins,  and  I  fled  up  the  passage.  I  gained 
the  chapel ;  I  flew  through  the  corridors  ;  reached 
my  own  room,  locked  tlie  door,  and  barred  it 
with  the  articles  of  furniture  nearest  at  hand  ; 
then  sank  upon  the  ground  with  a  hope  that  I 
was  dreaming.  But  again  the  stealthy  footsteps 
and  the  glimmering  lamp  glided  past,  and  then 
I  knew  that  all  was  true. 

I  lay,  I  know  not  how  long,  before  I  rose  and 
crept  shivering  to  my  bed.  I  folded  the  sleep 
ing  child  in  my  arms  as  if  to  shield  her.  She 
nestled  close  to  me,  and  kissed  me  in  her  slum 
ber.  After  this  I  remember  nothing  save  one 
long,  frightful  night,  during  which  I  seemed  to 
be  ever  falling  from  the  brink  of  some  precipice, 
or  hunted  by  beasts  of  prey,  or  buried  in  the 
subterranean  passage,  or  drowning  in  the  waters 
of  the  lake. 

At  last  my  consciousness  returned :  but  I 
found  myself  too  weak  to  speak  or  to  move. 
I  could  see  through  my  half-closed  lids  that  I 
was  in  my  own  room,  but  that  my  sister  was  no 
longer  beside  me.  Old  Flavia  sat  sleeping  in 
a  chair  at  the  foot  of  the  bed  ;  a  night-lamp  was 
burning  in  the  corner.  Eleven  o'clock  struck, 
—  midnight,  —  still  Flavia  slept  on. 
10 


146  ARABESQUES. 


As  I  lay,  I  heard  again  the  stealthy  footsteps, 
and  again  I  saw  the  gleam  of  light  pass  beneath 
my  door. 

I  felt  a  wave  of  feverish  strength  run  through 
me.  I  rose,  and,  creeping  from  the  room,  I 
followed  as  before.  Again  I  passed  through 
the  dark  passages  to  the  chapel  ;  the  gaping 
stone  stood  open ;  down  the  subterranean  way 
I  pursued  my  mother.  I  looked  out  again  upon 
the  gleaming  waters  of  the  waveless  lake.  I 
saw  her  again  sitting  among  the  ruins,  and  before 
her  stood  the  hag.  Through  the  stillness  the 
sound  of  their  voices  came  again,  clear  and  dis 
tinct  to  my  ear. 

"And  still  it  remains  hidden?"  my  mother 
was  saying. 

"  Sealed  in  a  hollow  stone,  beneath  the  high 
est  step  leading  to  the  vestibule,"  repeated  the 
old  woman.  "  It  would  puzzle  the  architect 
himself  to  say  where  that  is  now." 

And  she  glanced  around  on  the  ruins  with  a 
low  laugh. 

"  Peace  with  your  jests ! "  said  my  mother, 
sternly.  "  Your  business  is  to  listen  to  one  who 
allows  small  comment." 

The  hag  shrank  back. 

"  I  have  searched  every  cranny  of  the  fortress 
save  one,"  she  continued,  "  and  that  I  shall 


DOMITIA.  147 


examine    to-night.     And   now  follow   me.     We 
will  explore  it  together." 

I  turned  as  she  rose,  and  sped  up  the  passage 
till  I  reached  the  chapel.  There  I  hid  myself 
behind  the  altar  and  waited. 

Presently  I  heard  the  footsteps  of  my  mother 
and  the  old  woman.  As  they  ascended  into  the 
chapel,  I  heard  the  hag  sniff  the  air. 

u  Do  I  not  scent  human  breath?"  she  said. 

And  my  mother  answered,  — 

"  Not  a  soul  in  the  castle  but  sleeps.  The  sen 
tinels  on  the  outer  wall  alone  wake  at  this  hour." 

They  left  the  chapel,  and  I  followed  them 
through  many  windings  not  known  to  me 
before ;  for  I  had  never  been  allowed  to  go 
into  this  part  of  the  castle.  At  length  they 
passed  through  a  heavy  door,  and  down  a  flight 
of  stone  steps.  When  I  had  reached  the  foot  of 
the  steps,  looking  out  from  the  shadow  of  an 
angle,  I  saw  her  apply  a  master-key  to  the  door 
of  a  cell.  They  passed  within.  I  stole  to  the 
door  and  looked. 

My  mother  drew  a  small  bronze  dagger  from 
her  girdle,  and  tapped  in  succession  upon  each 
stone.  Each  returned  the  same  dull  sound. 
Around  the  walls,  over  the  floor  she  moved, 
tapping  gently  upon  every  separate  block.  The 
hag  stood  watching  her. 


148  ARABESQUES. 

The  lamp  upon  the  floor  shed  its  faint  light 
upon  my  mother's  stately,  white-robed  figure, 
and  dimly  showed  the  wrinkled  hideousness  of 
the  old  woman. 

Suddenly  my  mother  smote  upon  a  stone 
.beneath  the  grated  window.  I  heard  a  sound 
different  from  all  that  had  preceded  it,  —  a  faint 
tramping,  a  low  wailing,  as  of  a  distant  mul 
titude  hurrying  to  and  fro,  in  fear  and  dread, 
below  the  ground. 

She  flung  down  the  dagger  and  stood  erect, 
her  eyes  blazing  like  those  of  a  tiger  when  it 
sees  its  coveted  prey.  The  old  woman  sprang 
forward  with  the  lamp,  and  bent  over  the 
stone.  She  scratched  away  the  mould  that 
covered  it. 

"  Here  is  the  sign  in  very  truth,  O  august 
one !  "  she  said.  "  Now  let  us  raise  it." 

And  she  sought  with  her  bony  fingers  to  draw 
it  from  its  cavity.  She  paused,  after  striving  in 
vain,  and  muttered  low  curses. 

My  mother  bent  over  it,  and  examined  it  for 
a  moment. 

u  See  you  not  the  Christian  sign,  made  by  the 
slaves  who  placed  it  here?  "  she  exclaimed. 

The  hag  drew  back  in  terror.  "  We  can 
never  raise  it,"  she  said.  u  O  mighty  one ! 
leave  this  place.  I  feel  already  the  torments. 


DOMITIA.  149 


Come,  let  us  go."  She  caught  hold  of  the  folds 
of  my  mother's  dress. 

"  Peace,  fool ! "  said  my  mother,  frowning 
upon  her  companion.  "  Shall  Domitia  tremble 
because  of  your  grovelling  fears?  Speak,  say 
what  will  avail  to  raise  the  stone?" 

"  The  hand  of  a  Christian  only,"  stammered 
the  hag,  looking  fearfully  at  the  block. 

"  I  have  not  far  to  seek,"  said  my  mother. 
u  That  fair-haired  child  will  suit  my  purpose 
well." 

And  she  moved  towards  the  door. 

I  tarried  no  longer  in  the  shadow  without. 
I  advanced,  and  stood  before  them. 

The  old  hag  turned  her  bleared  and  evil  eyes 
upon  me.  My  mother  towered  up  as  if  about 
to  crush  me  into  the  earth. 

"  O  thou  that  bearest  the  semblance  of  my 
mother  ! "  I  said,  "  behold  I  offer  to  your  need 
the  hand  of  a  Christian  maiden  to  raise  the 
stone.  That  fulfilled,  I  adjure  you,  by  the  living 
God,  vanish,  and  disquiet  my  father's  house  no 
more." 

My  mother  shivered  as  I  spoke,  and  the  old 
hag  cowered  and  moaned. 

I  moved  onward  to  the  stone.  I  signed  three 
times  over  it  the  holy  cro^s,  then  raised  it  from 
its  bed.  When  I  lifted  it,  again  I  heard  the  faint 


150  ARABESQUES. 


trampling,  the  low  wailing,  as  of  a  distant  mul 
titude,  rushing  to  and  fro  in  fear  and  dread, 
below  the  ground. 

As  I  gave  it  into  my  mother's  hands,  I  saw 
that  her  form  had  begun  to  fade  and  grow  in 
distinct,  and  that  of  the  old  woman  also.  As  I 
stood,  they  became  fainter  and  fainter.  At 
length  I  could  see  the  lines  of  the  stone  wall 
through  .their  transparent  figures.  So,  slowly 
and  without  a  word  they  vanished,  bearing  with 
them  the  close-sealed  stone  with  its  hidden 
secret. 

When  their  last  trace  had  vanished,  I  knelt  on 
the  dungeon  floor  and  prayed.  And  as  I  prayed 
I  heard,  as  it  were  within  my  soul,  a  voice,  say 
ing, — 

"  My  child,  you  have  given  me  rest.  My 
mortal  body  now  will  be  undisturbed.  The 
gates  of  paradise  are  opening  to  my  soul." 

I  felt  an  air-pressed  kiss  upon  my  forehead. 
Then  there  was  silence  and  stillness  all  around. 
As  the  stars  began  to  fade,  I  regained  my 
chamber.  Flavia  still  slept.  I  lay  down  upon 
my  bed,  and  waited  till  the  day  had  fully 
dawned  ;  then  I  wakened  her,  and  ordered  her 
to  dress  me  and  lead  me  to  my  mother's  apart 
ments.  With  many  wondering  and  apprehensive 
words  she  obeyed. 


DOMITIA. 


The  door  was  locked.  I  commanded  it  to  be 
forced.  The  whole  household  was  gathered 
around. 

When  the  door  at  length  yielded,  we  entered. 
Within,  upon  her  bed,  lay  my  mother,  as  we 
had  placed  her,  when  we  brought  her  up,  dying, 
from  the  borders  of  the  lake.  A  gentle,  radiant 
smile  was  on  her  face,  a  look  as  of  a  reflection 
from  eternal  peace. 

With  stifled  cries  and  ejaculations  the  more 
timid  shrank  back,  while  the  bolder,  softly 
drawing  near,  stood  and  gazed  and  wept. 

The  priest  advanced  and  blessed  the  lovely, 
lifeless  clay  ;  and,  as  he  spoke,  the  morning  sun 
rose,  and  its  rays  streamed  through  the  open 
window  and  rested  on  her  face,  sweet  and 
gracious  as  that  of  one  of  God's  holy  angels. 

All  day,  with  my  little  sister  and  brother,  I 
knelt  beside  our  mother;  and,  when  the  night 
came,  we  buried  her  in  the  chapel ;  and  over 
the  tomb  our  father  raised  a  monument  to  her 
who  rests  in  God. 


O  M  B  R  A. 


O  M  B  R  A. 


HE  time  had  come  when  it 
behooved  me  to  leave  my 
home.  The  pleasant  days 
of  childhood  lay  behind 
me  ;  I  must  leave  the  broad 
lands  and  stately  castle 
wherein  they  had  been 
passed :  henceforth  my  thought  must  be  how  to 
quit  me  of  my  devoir  as  a  knight,  to  succor  the 
oppressed,  bring  comfort  to  the  afflicted,  and  to 
die,  if  need  be,  in  the  giant  strife  of  Right 
against  Might.  My  father  gave  me,  kneeling 
before  him,  his  blessing ;  and,  though  his  stately 
and  self-contained  demeanor  betrayed  no  emo 
tion,  yet  I  saw  his  chest  heave,  and  a  cloud  dim 
the  piercing  eyes  that  still  looked  forth,  falcon 
keen,  from  beneath  their  heavy  white  eyebrows. 


156  ARABESQUES. 


My  step-mother,  fair  and  fawning,  sitting  beside 
him,  smiled,  and  bade  me  make  sure  I  should  be 
remembered  in  her  daily  prayers  to  the  Virgin. 
And  so  I  left  my  home. 

After  leaving  the  castle,  I  rode  on  for  some 
days  without  meeting  any  thing  worthy  of  note. 
The  sky  was  clear,  the  way  was  pleasant,  and 
my  hopes  were  high.  But,  on  the  seventh  after 
noon,  the  sun,  which  had  risen  that  morning 
lowering  and  angry,  hid  itself  behind  heavy  and 
ominous  clouds ;  the  wind  moaned  and  sobbed 
in  the  distance.  I  saw  the  birds  precipitately 
seeking  shelter,  some  of  them  flying  in  circles 
high  in  the  air,  as  if  bewildered,  and  uttering 
discordant  screams ;  while  others  were  darting 
close  to  the  ground,  their  disturbed  and  hurried 
flight  proclaiming  their  fears. 

I  looked  around  for  refuge,  but  found  none. 
Not  a  castle  nor  tower  was  in  sight.  The  wind 
rose  higher ;  its  wail  was  changing  into  a  sullen 
whisper,  prophetic  of  the  coming  outburst  of 
its  wrath.  The  clouds  had  gathered  each  moment 
deeper,  till  now  they  covered  the  sky  with  a 
uniform  sheet  of  leaden  gray,  varied  here  and 
there  with  white  and  ragged  ledges,  from  within 
which  gleamed  at  intervals  a  phosphorescent 
light. 

I  saw  at  a  distance,  on  a  hill-side,  what  looked 


OMBRA.  157 


like  a  deserted  quarry.  Thither  I  decided  to 
betake  myself,  in  the  cheerless  hope  of  finding 
some  cranny  wherein  I  might  hide  me  from  the 
approaching  storm.  But,  ere  I  had  accomplished 
half  the  distance,  the  tempest  burst  upon  me  in 
all  its  fury.  The  rain  descended  in  torrents, 
obscuring  my  sight  of  all  save  the  objects  nearest 
me  ;  the  lightning  glared  from  every  quarter  of 
the  heavens  at  once,  and  the  thunder  crashed 
over  my  head  ;  while  the  howling  and  shrieking 
of  the  blast  completed  the  horror  of  the  scene. 

I  battled  on  against  the  storm  for  some  time 
as  best  I  could  ;  but,  as  I  approached  the  quarry, 
I  became  completely  bewildered,  and  was  about 
relinquishing  all  hope  of  finding  protection,  when 
a  sudden  flash  of  lightning  revealed  at  a  little 
distance  a  ruinous-looking  hut,  built  against  the 
steep  side  of  the  hill.  I  hastened  towards  it 
with  all  the  speed  of  which  my  terrified  horse 
was  capable ;  and,  springing  to  the  ground,  I 
knocked  loudly  at  the  door,  which,  as  well  as 
the  window,  seemed  strongly  secured.  After  a 
short  pause  the  window-shutter  was  cautiously 
opened,  and  an  old  woman  with  a  most  villa- 
nous  face  peered  stealthily  out  at  me.  She 
returned  no  reply  to  my  urgent  request  for 
entrance,  but  studied  my  appearance  carefully, 
her  eye  resting  for  an  unreasonable  length  of 


158  ARABESQUES. 

time,  as  it  seemed  to  me,  on  the  jewelled  fasten 
ing  of  my  plume.  At  length  she  retired  from 
the  window ;  I  heard  voices  within  ;  then  the 
door  was  opened,  but  not  by  her.  A  girl  of 
about  sixteen,  of  singular  beauty,  though  most 
sullen  expression,  appeared  on  the  threshold, 
and  bade  me  enter  while  she  provided  for  my 
steed.  I  answered  her  discourteous  address 
gently,  and  expressed  the  desire  to  myself  see 
to  the  accommodation  of  the  horse.  She  turned 
without  speaking ;  and,  following  her  as  she  led 
the  way  around  the  foot  of  a  projecting  cliff, 
I  found  myself  in  face  of  the  quarry  I.  had  been 
seeking. 

She  pointed  out  to  me  a  narrow  crevice,  which, 
entering  to  a  considerable  depth,  would  afford 
protection  to  my  horse  against  the  descending 
flood.  As  she  stood  close  to  the  animal's  head, 
a  new  flash,  of  such  vividness  as  to  almost  blind 
me,  burst  from  the  sky ;  and  the  horse,  making 
an  abrupt  movement  of  affright,  struck  the  steel 
barb  of  his  frontlet  upon  her  arm.  As  I  saw 
the  blood  start  forth,  I  tore  off  my  dripping 
scarf  and  bound  it  around  the  injured  limb. 

The  girl  stood  sullenly  mute,  not  answering  a 
word  to  my  expressions  of  regret ;  but,  as  I  re 
leased  her  arm,  she  raised  her  eyes  and  gave 
me  a  sudden  look,  —  a  look  which  I  did  not  then 


OMDRA.  159 


comprehend,  but  whose  meaning  was  soon  dis 
closed  to  me. 

She.reconducted  me  to  the  hut,  the  old  woman 
carefully  rebarring  the  door  behind  me.  While 
the  girl  employed  herself  in  kindling  a  fire,  I 
looked  around  me  to  examine,  as  well  as  the 
dim  twilight  which  made  its  way  through  the 
crevices  of  the  door  and  window  allowed,  what 
place  I  had  chanced  upon. 

It  seemed  but  a  common  peasant's  hut,  the 
furniture  consisting  only  of  a  pallet  bed,  a  large 
wooden  table,  and  some  stools :  a  large  pile  of 
straw  was  heaped  in  one  corner.  I  saw  nothing 
to  disquiet  me  ;  and  yet  I  found,  after  the  first 
feeling  of  relief  at  being  sheltered  from  the 
storm  raging  without,  a  vague  sense  of  insecu 
rity  stealing  over  me.  I  looked  at  the  old  woman, 
who,  seated  on  a  low  stool,  her  hands  clasped 
around  her  knees,  had  not  ceased  to  contem 
plate  me  since  I  entered ;  and  from  her  my  eyes 
turned  to  the  lithe  and  rounded  figure  of  the 
girl,  and  I  smiled  at  myself  for  my  causeless  and 
irrational  disquietude  :  nevertheless,  reason  with 
it  as  I  would,  it  incessantly  returned  upon  me, 
till  I  flushed  with  anger  at  my  own  folly,  yet 
yielded  to  the  feeling  so  far  as  to  retain  my 
armor  entire. 

The  girl,  meantime,  had  prepared  for  me  a 


160  ARABESQUES. 

most  savory  meal,  such  as  I  had  little  anticipated 
from  the  appearance  of  the  hut.  She  warmed 
some  rich  broth,  which  she  set  before  me,  and 
produced  from  a  covered  shelf  the  remains  of  a 
venison  pasty,  a  half  loaf  of  white  bread,  and 
a  flask  of  wine.  Then  she  stood  leaning  against 
the  wall,  her  head  sunk  on  her  breast,  her  eye 
brows  drawn  low  over  her  eyes. 

I  thanked  her  for  her  courtesy,  and  begged  of 
her  to  seat  herself  and  eat  with  me.  With  an 
abrupt  gesture  she  refused.  Nevertheless,  she 
seemed  to  change  her  mind ;  for  a  few  moments 
later  she  approached  the  table  as  if  to  alter  the 
disposition  of  the  viands  before  me  ;  and,  stand 
ing  so  as  to  hide  what  she  did  from  the  old 
woman,  she  broke  a  crumb  of  bread  from  the 
morsel  1  was  eating,  and  carried  it  to  her  mouth. 
It  seemed  to  me  tltat  in  a  dream  I  had  seen  that 
same  motion  before. 

"  Has  the  young  lord  good  wine?  the  right 
wine?"  asked  the  old  woman,  bending  forward 
and  peering  at  the  flask  beside  me. 

"  Not  yet,"  replied  the  girl ;  "  I  keep  that  for 
the  last." 

And  as  she  spoke  she  filled  my  glass  anew 
with  wine ;  then,  producing  a  second  flask,  she 
filled  another  glass,  while  the  old  woman 
watched  her  covertly. 


?JM.  '161 


"This  is  a  better  wine,"  said  the  giil,  addreM- 
ing  me  lor  the  fir  t  tinj<-  M'U«-  J  iftttfid  ;  but,  a« 
•he  hpoke,  she  in1-  ri  the 

table    ;iud    the    old    woman,   and    adroitly    snbsti- 
ltM«-«l   llu;' first  #l:if>}»   f'/t    !  ,»1,  whi<  h    hhc 

away  an<l  •:  upon  tin-  hlx-lf. 

"A     bclt«T    Wine."      lepe.lled     fJJ(.     oj,j     Wom:)IJ? 

bbing  Jjer    b.-unl^  U)f  .  jlh   a   low,  <l)ii<k- 

):ni 
I    rir.-niK-d   (J)e  glaM,  lh»;ii,  lowering   rny  v, 

:.'  niyv  If  down  upon  tbc  pall<-t  bed  wbi<  |j 
llje  >/u\  h;id  b<r<:n  hliakin^  iij>  foi  tfi 

tv  J  '     '  •     ii.-ij>j>enh,"  she   rnut- 

f( -,,  ,\    below  her   bre.-ith   a^  sh<:   pasM-d  u«-ar  me, 

bearing  away  the  fK-i^ment--,  left  f,,yin  ,My  »upper. 

I  '  lo*  d   HI  d  lay  in  no  envi;ibl«-  1'rarmr 

.^n<l.  All  fix;  >>tran^<'  and  sinister  tales  that 
I  bad  Jjraid  in  my  ehildhood  n-tunsi-d  nj>on  rny 
mind,  bl«-ndin^  with  tlx;  wailing  of  the  wind, 
and  lk>W9 COOtmtlOai  falling  of  tJje  rain  without, 
—  for,  altbou;'!)  t  Q  ),;,d 

!«rmr-nlH  b.-id  :  i. 

the:  li^ht  M« •;>  ;drl  within  as  *he  rrj', 

li   and   forwards. 
At  length  J  heard  the  voi<  «•  of  th<;  old 

t)'11'-    tf'  .-,"    *hc    haid. 

u  It  is  high   t:  now  there    j 

Jt  will  1><:  Ion-  ere  he  wakes  again," 


162  ARABESQUES. 


laughed.  "  My  fingers  itch  to  handle  those 
rubies.  What  ailed  him  to  go  to  sleep  in  his 
helmet?"  she  grumbled  querulously.  "But  I 
shall  not  need  to  wait  long." 

As  she  ended,  I  heard  a  rustling,  and,  looking 
from  between  my  lids,  I  saw  the  girl  remove  the 
pile  of  straw  which  lay  in  the  corner ;  and 
behind  it  I  beheld  a  large,  low  aperture  in  the 
wall.  She  stooped  and  disappeared  through  it. 
After  a  while  I  saw  light  shine  forth.  A  long 
time  elapsed  ;  finally  the  girl  returned.  As  she 
reappeared,  the  old  woman  addressed  her. 

"  Pepita,  I  am  thirsty.  Give  me  the  glass  of 
wine  you  took  from  the  stranger.  It  will  turn 
sour  if  it  remain  there  open." 

The  girl  moved  slowly  and  hesitatingly  to 
wards  the  covered  shelf.  She  took  down  the 
glass,  but  stumbled  as  she  carried  it  towards 
the  old  woman,  and  the  wine  was  spilt  upon  the 
ground. 

"  A  thousand  curses  on  you!"  exclaimed  the 
old  witch.  "  Such  good  wine  !  such  excellent 
wine  !  and  all  gone  to  waste." 

And  she  berated  the  girl  angrily  ;  but  the  girl 
made  no  reply. 

Whilst  she  was  still  scolding,  I  heard  the 
approaching  sound  of  many  feet.  The  girl 
rapidly  untwisted  the  scarf  from  her  arm  and 


OMBRA.  163 


threw  it  into  a  corner ;  then,  again  passing  near 
me,  she  muttered,  — 

u  Feign  sleep." 

The  door  was  hastily  opened  in  reply  to  three 
sharp  raps  ;  and,  looking  as  before  between  my 
half-closed  lids,  I  saw  a  band  of  pilgrims,  in 
brown  robes  and  broad  hats  with  scallop  shells, 
enter.  There  were  twelve  of  them  :  one  had 
the  swarthy  complexion  and  lustreless  black  hair 
of  a  Moor. 

The  party  suddenly  hushed  their  voices  as 
they  came  in,  and  one  of  them  whisoered,  — 

"What's  this,  flesh  or  fowl?" 

"  You  need  not  whisper,"  said  the  old  woman. 
"  He  has  had  the  stirrup  cup.  He  has  started 
on  a  long  journey.  He  will  meet  a  numerous 
company.  Ha,  ha  !  " 

"  Perhaps,  if  he  hurries,"  rejoined  one  of  the 
pilgrims,  "  he  may  catch  up  with  the  Caballero 
we  despatched  to  find  his  forefathers  this  after 
noon.  But  stay,  he  seems  a  dainty  youth,  judg 
ing  from  his  array,  —  he  will  scarce  relish  the 
travel  in  company  with  that  vinegar-faced  gentle 
woman  who  gave  her  last  scream  at  the  same 
time." 

And  the  pilgrims  laughed  in  hideous  chorus. 
Then  they  approached  and  stood  around  me  as 
I  lay  shrouded  in  my  armor. 


164  ARABESQUES. 


"  Stay,  Bernardino,"  said  one  of  the  burliest 
of  the  band,  "  that  armor  will  serve  your  turn 
well.  Yours  is  not  so  well  jointed  as  it  might 
be.  I  thought  you  were  done  for  last  week, 
when  that  squire's  blade  so  nearly  pinked  you 
under  the  corselet." 

"  Yes,"  answered  a  younger  voice,  "  I  shall  fit 
into  it  like  the  meat  of  an  egg  into  its  shell. 
Let's  have  it  off  now,  and  throw  him  down  at 
once." 

At  this  an  almost  irrepressible  impulse  rushed 
over  me  to  spring  to  my  feet  and  sell  my  life  as 
dearly  as  possible ;  but,  as  he  ended,  the  girl 
came  forward,  and  lifted  her  sullen  eyes  to  his. 

"  I  won't  have  any  more  thrown  down  until 
they  don't  know  what's  done  with  them.  I  had 
bad  dreams  for  a  week  after  the  last  one.  I 
kept  hearing  his  shriek  when  he  sank  under  the 
water.  Wait  till  after  supper  :  that  will  be  time 
enough." 

The  younger  pilgrim  seemed  inclined  to  dis 
pute  ;  but  the  rest  interfered,  and,  saying  it  was 
of  no  consequence  whether  it  were  done  an  hour 
sooner  or  later,  demanded  clamorously  their 
supper  forthwith  ;  and  one  by  one  they  passed 
through  the  aperture,  followed  by  the  old  wo 
man,  and  left  me  alone. 

When  thus  freed  from  observation,  I  turned  on 


OMBRA.  165 


my  side,  and,  approaching  my  eyes  to  the  loosely 
constructed  wall  of  stone,  looked  through  a 
crevice  that  was  near  me. 

I  saw  a  spacious  cavern  dimly  lighted  by  the 
blaze  of  an  enormous  fire,  the  smoke  of  which 
rose  in  circling  clouds  and  hung  in  a  thick  mass 
above.  Near  the  fire  was  a  long  oaken  table, 
and  round  it  sat  the  pilgrims.  They  had  thrown 
aside  their  robes  and  hats,  and  I  saw  that  they 
were  all  cased  in  steel  and  armed  to  the  teeth. 
The  table  was  covered  with  silver,  and  to  my 
horror  I  recognized  the  hallowed  dishes  and 
chalices  wherein  the  Holy  Sacrament  is  admin 
istered  to  man. 

The  girl  and  the  old  woman  rapidly  set  before 
the  band  the  smoking  viands,  and  served  them 
with  wine ;  while  the  robbers  jeered  and  jested 
at  them,  and  in  coarse  and  brutal  wise  bade 
them  hurry. 

Then  the  revel  began.  Loud  and  long  were 
their  songs ;  furious  was  their  mirth  ;  too  horri 
ble  to  remember,  the  deeds  they  recounted  and 
gloried  in.  Occasionally  a  quarrel  would  burst 
out  between  some  two  or  three  of  them  ;  but  to 
this  the  others  paid  no  heed,  taking  it,  as  it  would 
•  seem,  as  a  matter  of  course.  Looking  again 
through  the  crevice,  I  saw  the  girl  pour  out  wine 
to  the  Moor.  He  caught  her  by  the  wrist. 


166  ARABESQUES. 


"  Nay,  Judas  !  "  shouted  the  rest  of  the  band, 
"  no  scruples.  Don't  bring  your  old  tricks  here. 
Down  with  the  forbidden  drink  !  " 

And  with  hoots  and  yells  they  all  rose  and 
precipitated  themselves  upon  the  Moor,  to  force 
him  to  drink  the  wine. 

Profiting  by  the  universal  clamor  and  confu 
sion,  the  girl  glided  rapidly  into  the  outer  hut 
where  I  lay.  She  returned  without  a  word  ;  and 
I  saw,  as  I  peered  through  the  crevice,  that  she 
bore  back  a  flask  of  wine,  which  she  placed  in 
a  corner  without  any  one's  seeming  to  notice 
her. 

At  last,  their  object  effected,  the  tumult  was 
appeased,  and  the  robbers  resumed  their  seats 
around  the  table.  The  girl  threw  on  the  fire  a 
fresh  armful  of  brushwood,  which,  instantly 
kindling,  flamed  upward,  sending  out  a  shower 
of  sparks.  Its  light  was  reflected  by  the  gleam 
ing  armor  and  burnished  silver,  and  played  on 
the  desperate  and  savage  faces  of  the  company, 
distorted  by  their  brawl  and  reddened  by  their 
copious  draughts  of  wine. 

"  Come,  Pepita,"  said  the  oldest  of  the  band, 
"  fill  us  once  more  our  cups.  The  master  will 
soon  be  here,  and  we  must  finish  betimes." 

At  this  the  girl  drew  forth  the  flask  from  the 
corner  and  rapidly  filled  the  chalice  beside  each 


OMBRA.  167 


robber ;  then,  holding  high  the  consecrated 
vases,  they  shouted  forth  a  ribald  and  impious 
song.  At  its  close  each  drained  his  cup. 

But  no  sooner  had  they  swallowed  the  wine 
than  they  began  to  mutter  incoherently ;  their 
heads  fell  from  side  to  side  ;  they  seemed  over 
whelmed  by  sudden  stupor.  Some  of  them 
slipped  down  from  their  seats  and  lay  along  the 
ground ;  others  sank  heavily  forward  on  the 
dishes  that  covered  the  table.  The  girl  stood 
steadily  watching  them.  I  saw  by  the  light  of 
the  blaze  that  her  face  had  turned  quite  white. 

The  old  woman  meantime  had  stolen  into  a 
corner,  and  was  there  draining  what  remained 
in  the  flask.  But,  as  she  still  held  it  to  her  lips, 
I  saw  her  head  fall,  and  she  sank  back. 

In  the  sudden  silence  which  had  succeeded  to 
the  wild  uproar  within,  I  beheld  the  girl  bend 
forward  and  raise  her  hand  to  her  ear  as  if  to 
catch  a  distant  sound.  I,  too,  listened,  and  heard 
the  faint  echo  of  a  horse's  hoofs.  She  caught 
up  a  small  lamp.  In  an  instant  she  was  at  my 
side. 

"  Up,  up  !  "  she  said.  "  Now  it  all  rests  with 
you." 

I  started  to  my  feet  and  grasped  my  sword. 
The  girl  unbarred  the  door. 

The  sounds  came  rapidly  nearer.     I  heard  the 


168  ARABESQUES. 


rattling  of  armor  without ;  a  rider  springing 
from  his  horse  ;  the  door  was  thrown  open,  and 
a  form  of  gigantic  height  entered,  clothed  in 
complete  panoply  of  steel. 

"  Hell-cat ! "  he  shouted,  as  he  crossed  the 
threshold,  turning  to  the  girl ;  and,  quick  as 
lightning,  he  hurled  his  dagger  at  her ;  then, 
without  a  moment's  pause,  he  rushed  upon  me. 

The  fight  was  an  unequal  one.  Though  per 
haps  his  match  in  skill,  his  great  height  gave 
him  the  superiority  over  me.  He  constantly 
overreached  my  guard ;  and  had  not  my  armor 
been  of  proved  Milan  steel,  his  sword  would 
have  pierced  it  more  than  once.  At  length, 
pressing  me  harder  and  harder,  he  bore  me  to 
my  knee,  and,  shortening  his  sword,  was  about 
to  deal  what  would  have  been  a  fatal  blow, 
when,  glancing  upward,  I  saw  a  descending 
gleam  of  light ;  and,  with  a  dying  yell,  my 
enemy  fell,  face  forward,  a  dagger  plunged  deep 
in  his  neck. 

The  girl  stood  over  him,  her  hair  streaming 
back,  her  eyes  blazing. 

She  spurned  him  with  her  foot. 

"  At  length,  hound  !  —  at  length  !  "  she  said. 

She  turned  to  me. 

"  Hence ! " 

And   she   moved   towards    the    door.      I   fol- 


OMBRA.  169 


lowed  her,  panting,  dizzy,  mechanically  muttering 
thanks  to  God. 

The  storm  had  ceased,  the  rising  moon  lay 
peacefully  over  the  landscape  without.  As  I 
stood,  the  night  wind  bore  to  my  ear,  faint,  yet 
distinct,  the  sound  of  a  distant  bell. 

"Yes,  there,"  said  the  girl.  "But  wait,  old 
Juanita,  —  she  must  not  stay." 

And  she  went  back  into  the  hut.  I  accom 
panied  her,  as,  bearing  the  little  lamp,  she 
passed  the  bleeding  corpse  and  returned  into  the 
cavern. 

The  fire  had  almost  gone  out.  A  few  brands 
yet  glowed  amid  the  ashes,  faintly  revealing 
dark,  heavy  forms  stretched  motionless  around 
the  table. 

"Juanita  !  "  she  called,  but  there  was  no  reply. 

"  The  old  woman  drank  also,"  I  said,  and 
pointed  to  the  corner  where  the  prostrate  figure 
was  lying.  She  stood  and  gazed  upon  it. 

"  She  beat  me  when  I  was  a  child,"  she  said  ; 
"  but  that  was  long  ago." 

Then,  addressing  me, — 

"What  is  done  when  Christians  die?"  she 
asked. 

I  told  her  how  their  bodies  were  composed 
for  their  last  sleep,  with  closed  lids  and  folded 
hands,  and  burning  tapers  at  their  feet:  and  she 


170  ARABESQUES. 

knelt  beside  the  old  woman  and  arranged  her  as 
I  had  said  ;  then,  placing  the  little  lamp  at  her 
feet,  she  turned  away. 

"  Yes,  there,"  she  repeated.  "  How  often 
have  I  listened  to  those  bells  !  " 

She  took  a  brand  from  the  fire  to  give  her 
light,  and  went  to  another  side  of  the  cave. 
Presently  she  came  back,  bearing  a  golden  pix. 

"  It  is  my  entrance  gift,"  she  said.  "  Now 
hence ! " 

And  we  passed  out  from  the  cavern  with  its 
dead,  and  forth  again  into  the  cool,  free  air. 

Led  by  her,  I  proceeded  down  a  rugged  way 
until  I  arrived  at  the  border  of  a  vast  lake.  On 
its  opposite  side  rose  the  towers  and  spire  of  a 
vast  convent,  revealed  by  the  soft  radiance  of 
the  rising  moon.  We  descended  to  the  shore 
of  the  lake,  and  skirted  its  quiet  waters.  The 
girl,  bearing  the  pix,  her  head  sunk  on  her 
breast,  walked  before,  without  once  speaking  or 
looking  round.  All  was  still  save  the  plashing 
of  the  ripples  which  broke  on  the  shore  beside  us. 

At  length  we  gained  the  opposite  side,  and 
stood  before  the  convent  gate.  The  girl  turned, 
and  raised  her  eyes  to  mine. 

"Yours  is  the  only  voice  that  has  ever  spoken 
to  me  in  kindness,  the  only  hand  that  has  ever 
been  stretched  out  to  do  me  a  good  deed.  It  is 


OMBRA.  171 


for  that  that  you  are  alive.  Now  take  this.  It 
is  the  only  thing  I  possess."  And  she  detached 
from  her  neck  a  small,  white  carnelian  heart 
fastened  to  a  slender  thread  of  gold.  "  It  is  a 
charm  against  the  evil  eye.  He  threw  it  to  me 
one  night  because  all  the  rest  were  quarrelling 
for  it.  With  that  resting  on  your  heart,  you 
may  defy  even  the  eye  of  Mazitka  himself." 

I  started  at  the  name  of  that  fell  astrologer 
and  necromancer,  long  since  hunted  by  late- 
roused  justice  from  the  bounds  of  human  hab 
itations.  I  was  about  pouring  out  to  the  girl 
my  gratitude  for  all  that  she  had  done  for  me  ; 
but,  turning  from  me  as  abruptly  as  she  had 
addressed  me,  she  sounded  the  horn  which  hung 
by  the  gate.  Its  harsh  alarum  rang  far  and 
wide,  disturbing  the  peaceful  echoes  amid  the 
surrounding  hills. 

As  the  clangor  subsided,  a  voice  from  the 
wicket  asked  our  errand.  But  scarcely  was 
the  question  uttered  than  it  was  followed  by  a 
scream  of  astonishment  and  joy  within. 

"The  pix!  the  blessed  pix !  St.  Eloi's  holy 
pix!" 

And  then  the  voice  vanished.  In  a  few 
moments  the  gate  was  thrown  widely  open,  and 
on  the  threshold  appeared  the  abbess,  surrounded 
by  all  the  nuns,  their  glad  and  excited  faces 


172  ARABESQUES. 

crowding  the  one  on  the  other  under  the  light 
of  the  lamp  that  swung  from  the  archway,  their 
eyes  riveted  upon  the  figure  of  the  girl  as  she 
stood  supporting  the  golden  pix. 

The  abbess  extended  her  hand  in  benediction 
over  the  head  of  the  girl,  and  then  the  nuns  ad 
vanced  and  closed  around  her.  They  retreated 
with  her  in  their  midst,  and  I  saw  her  no  more. 

The  abbess  remained  alone  before  me. 

I  told  her  my  title  and  my  story,  and  expressed 
my  wish  to  make  a  rich  endowment  to  the  con 
vent  in  the  name  of  the  young  girl  who,  with 
the  Virgin's  aid,  had  saved  me  from  the  peril  of 
a  dreadful  death.  She  listened  with  interest  to 
my  tale,  and  promised  that  the  girl  should  be 
gently  tended  and  carefully  nurtured  in  all  wis 
dom  and  piety.  Then  she  ordered  the  guest's 
chamber,  in  a  small  building  outside  the  convent 
walls,  to  be  prepared  for  me  ;  and,  giving  me 
her  blessing,  she  withdrew. 

The  next  morning,  I  was  roused  by  the  sweet 
voices  of  the  nuns,  floating  from  the  chapel 
windows,  as  they  sang  their  matin  hymn ;  and 
my  heart  was  glad  within  me  as  I  thought  of 
the  homeless  one  who  had  found  shelter,  the 
lonely  one  who  had  found  eternal  love  ;  and  I 
rose  refreshed,  and,  mounting  my  horse,  I  pro 
ceeded  cheerfully  on  my  way. 


OMBRA.  173 


I  rested  at  mid-day  beside  a  little  brook  that 
ran  sparkling  down  through  a  shady  ravine.  I 
freed  my  horse's  head  from  its  heavy  frontlet, 
that  it  might  graze  at  ease ;  and,  throwing  my 
self  down  on  the  fresh  green  sod,  spangled  with 
little  golden  cups  and  pink-tipped  daisies,  I  gave 
myself  up  to  pleasurable  rest. 

As  I  lay  dreamily  watching  the  great  white 
clouds  piled  in  majestic  repose  upon  the  deep 
blue  of  the  sky,  I  heard  faint  notes  of  music 
stealing  softly  on  the  air.  I  roused  myself  and 
looked  around.  Not  a  human  being  was  in 
sight ;  not  a  trace  of  human  habitation  was 
visible. 

"  It  is  some  shepherd's  pipe,"  I  said.  "  He 
gladdens  his  solitude  with  these  sweet  sounds." 
And  again  I  lay  down  and  listened.  The  notes 
poured  low  but  clear  upon  the  air.  They  seemed, 
as  I  hearkened,  to  take  a  beseeching  tone.  I 
moved  restlessly ;  my  horse  stopped  grazing, 
and,  his  ears  bent  forward,  stood  looking  intently 
towards  the  quarter  whence  the  sounds  pro 
ceeded.  More  and  more  urgent  grew  the  inar 
ticulate  tones.  Half  involuntarily  I  rose  to  my 
feet,  and  my  horse  at  the  same  moment  moved 
gently  forward.  I  hastily  adjusted  his  caparisons, 
and  sprang  into  the  saddle.  As  I  did  so,  the 
sounds  grew  sweeter.  There  was  a  crystalline 


174  ARABESQUES. 

joy  in  them,  a  happy  murmur,  as  of  singing 
brooks  and  cooing  birds ;  yet  the  tones  were 
not  those  of  brooks  or  birds,  —  they  were  human. 
Whence  did  they  come? 

I  travelled  in  their  direction  all  day,  and  yet 
they  grew  no  nearer :  a  rippling  stream  of 
delight  they  passed  my  ear ;  hour  after  hour  I 
pressed  on,  yet  seemed  no  closer  to  their  source. 

The  sun  went  down  in  purple  glory  over  a 
swelling  horizon  of  distant  hill-tops.  The  even 
ing  star  shone  clear  where  the  rosy  tints  of  the 
sky  melted  into  softest  blue  ;  yet  still  the  enchant 
ing  murmur  of  the  song  caressed  my  ear,  and 
still  my  steed  pressed  on  to  meet  the  gathering 
shadows  of  the  coming  night.  Up  the  rounded 
hill-sides,  down  the  grassy  valleys,  we  passed, 
obedient  to  the  call.  The  scenery  grew  wilder 
as  we  advanced  ;  the  moon,  newly  risen,  showed 
us  the  beds  of  mountain  torrents  and  the  sides 
of  barren  steeps  ;  yet  still  we  journeyed  on.  At 
last,  as  we  passed  out  from  a  rugged  defile  into  a 
plain,  the  song  ceased. 

Before  me  lay  the  ruins  of  a  city,  covering  the 
plain  with  their  irregular  masses  and  broken 
shadows.  High  in  the  centre  rose  a  steep  rock 
crowned  with  a  tower,  from  whose  topmost  win 
dow  streamed  a  ruddy  ray  of  light. 

Much   wondering  I  advanced,  threading  my 


OMBRA.  175 


way  among  the  ruins,  until  I  reached  the  foot  of 
the  rock.  Here  I  left  my  horse,  —  for  the  path 
was  too  precipitous  to  allow  of  his  ascent,  —  and 
began  to  climb  the  broken  and  uneven  steps 
which  led  upward  to  the  tower.  There  was 
something  most  strange  and  desolate  in  the  scene 
about  me  as  I  stopped  from  time  to  time  to  con 
template  it.  The  moonlight  streamed  over  the 
ruined  walls,  and  drew  their  outlines  on  the  grass 
beneath.  Yawning  vaults  here  and  there  opened 
their  pitfalls,  and  broken  columns  showed  where 
once  luxurious  homes  had  been  reared.  All 
around  the  valley  was  a  continuous  wall  of  steep 
hills,  the  defiles  between  them  so  narrow  that 
one  man  might  guard  each  against  an  army. 

I  marvelled  as  I  beheld  the  desolation  that 
had  fallen  upon  the  city,  once  so  great  and  so 
powerful,  as  the  extent  of  its  ruins  showed  ;  but 
a  fresher,  stronger  interest  soon  chased  these 
reflections,  and  again  I  climbed  the  precipitous 
ascent.  At  length  I  reached  the  summit.  I 
found  myself  at  the  foot  of  a  round  tower  built 
of  hewn  stone.  The  only  aperture  on  the  lower 
story  consisted  of  a  heavy  door.  At  this  I 
knocked.  After  a  long  pause  I  knocked  again 
more  loudly.  As  I  lowered  my  hand,  the  door 
was  slowly  opened,  and  I  saw  before  me  the 
stooping  figure  of  a  man,  bent,  as  it  seemed,  with 


176  ARABESQUES. 


study  still  more  than  with  years.  He  held  the 
door  half-open,  and  stood  as  if  he  expected  me 
to  speak  my  errand  and  then  be  gone.  A  secret 
reluctance  withheld  me  from  mentioning  the 
sounds  which  I  had  followed  until  they  had 
brought  me  in  sight  of  his  tower ;  and  I  merely 
stated  that  I  was  a  belated  traveller,  who  request 
ed  rest  for  the  night. 

The  old  man  shook  his  head,  and  without 
further  ceremony  was  about  to  close  the  door 
upon  me,  when  a  light  step  sprang  down  the 
winding  staircase  behind  him,  a  girlish  face 
appeared  above  his  shoulder,  and  a  caressing 
voice  began  to  whisper  earnestly  in  the  ear  which 
he  unwillingly  inclined  towards  it.  I  thought 
that  I  heard  again  the  music  by  the  brook. 

At  the  urgent  entreaty,  the  hard  brow  of  the 
old  man  relaxed.  He  opened  wide  the  heavy 
door,  and  bade  me  enter.  The  girl  came  forward 
to  my  side,  and,  without  speaking,  slid  her  small 
hand  into  mine,  and  led  me  up  the  stairs.  So 
simply  and  innocently  was  it  done  that  no  tinge 
of  unmaidenly  forwardness  seemed  mingled 
with  the  act. 

Issuing  from  the  dark  and  winding  staircase, 
I  found  myself  in  a  large,  circular  room.  From 
the  lofty  ceiling  hung  a  globe  of  light  which 
showed  the  discordant  and  unaccustomed  objects 


OMBRA.  177 


around.  Ancient  bookcases  filled  with  volumes, 
some  bound  in  worn  and  tattered  shagreen, 
others  enclosed  in  cases  of  gold  and  crystal ; 
stands  of  narrow  shelves,  whereon  vials  of  curi 
ous  shape  and  design  contained  liquids  of  various 
tints,  some  dark  and  turbid,  others  in  restless 
effervescence,  and  still  others  clear  and  pellucid, 
—  alternated  with  divans  and  cushions  of  rich  bro 
cade.  High  on  the  walls,  as  if  crawling  upward 
from  the  richness  below,  were  fastened  dried 
crocodiles  and  hideous  serpents ;  at  intervals 
dangled  enormous  eggs,  irregularly  marked  as  if 
with  written  characters  unsteadily  traced  ;  musi 
cal  instruments  were  strewn  here  and  there,  and 
a  cage  of  brilliant  enamel  contained  a  white 
dove  with  a  rosy  crest.  But,  in  ghastly  contrast 
to  these  indications  of  girlish  occupancy,  upon 
a  high  pedestal' in  the  centre  of  the  room  stood  a 
yellow  skeleton,  its  eyeless  glare  and  fleshless 
grin  mocking  as  it  were  the  luxury  around. 

On  a  table  near  the  window  was  placed  a  tele 
scope,  and  beside  it  were  maps  and  charts  cov 
ered  with  figures  and  signs. 

All  this  my  eye  took  in  at  a  glance  ;  then  it 
turned  and  rested  upon  the  old  man  and  the  girl : 
it  rested,  and  was  riveted. 

The  old  man  had  returned  to  the  occupation 
which  my  summons  had  apparently  interrupted, 
12 


178  ARABESQUES. 


and,  seated  behind  the  telescope,  was  already 
absorbed  in  study  of  the  stars.  His  robe  and 
cap  of  black  velvet  were  bordered  with  purple 
fur,  such  as  I  had  never  before  seen,  and  his  dra 
pery  was  held  about  him  by  a  broad  belt  of  some 
curious,  semi-transparent  material,  in  texture  like 
very  thin  leather. 

His  profile  was  turned  towards  me,  and  I 
could  study  it  without  danger  of  the  discourtesy 
of  attracting  his  attention.  His  forehead  was 
high  and  narrow,  furrowed  with  lines  that  ran 
transversely  towards  the  centre.  His  eyes  and 
eyebrows,  cat-like,  followed  the  same  line,  which 
gave  a  look  of  singular  cunning  and  perfidy  to 
his  face.  His  nose  was  long  and  aquiline  ;  and 
the  nostrils,  though  thin,  curved  widely  outward 
at  the  base,  as  though  perpetually  distended  by 
evil  intention.  His  mouth  was  small  and  mea 
gre,  its  outlines  hard  and  unyielding.  .  The  lips 
closed  but  partially,  showing  rat-like  teeth  with 
in.  But  something  which  is  quite  indescribable 
was  the  expression  which  animated  those  feat 
ures.  A  look  so  diabolical,  of  such  suppressed 
yet  exultant  wickedness,  played  over  them,  fusing 
their  lines  as  with  a  glow  of  hell,  that  I  felt  my 
very  soul  shrink  aghast  from  the  contemplation  ; 
and  I*half  resolved  to  leave  the  tower  at  once, 
and  trust  myself  to  the  hospitality  of  the  open 


OMBRA.  179 


air  and  the  crumbling  ruins  without.  But,  as  I 
turned  my  look  upon  the  maiden,  my  resolve 
flickered  like  the  flame  of  a  candle  in  a  sudden 
breeze,  and  died  out.  I  had  never  seen,  even  in 
dreams,  any  thing  so  marvellous  as  her  beauty, 
set  oft'  as  it  was  by  her  strange  and  costly  dress. 

Her  features  and  figure  were  of  exquisite 
symmetry ;  her  hair  fell  in  golden  waves  down 
to  her  very  feet ;  her  eyes  were  of  deep,  transpa 
rent  blue,  soft  and  pure  as  a  summer  lake  when 
not  a  cloud  dims  the  sky.  She  was  arrayed  in 
some  light,  fleecy  material,  as  if  froth  of  the  sea 
had  been  woven  and  bordered  with  crimson  and 
gold  ;  and  her  feet  were  shod  with  jewelled  san 
dals,  leaving  their  delicate  surfaces  bare.  Over 
her  whole  appearance  rested  as  it  were  a  mist. 
I  looked  at  her  half-blinded,  as  though  I  beheld 
her  through  the  shining  spray  of  a  waterfall. 
Her  outlines  seemed  shifting  and  unsteady ;  the 
only  things  permanent  about  her  were  her  deep, 
soft  eyes  and  the  glory  of  her  hair. 

She  smiled  as  I  looked  upon  her,  and,  drawing 
me  to  a  seat,  she  unlaced  my  helmet  and  bore  it 
away.  I  could  no  more  resist  her  than  I  could 
have  resisted  a  little  child.  Then,  bringing  a 
small  casket,  she  drew  forth  some  delicious 
perfume,  which  she  poured  upon  my  hair  and 
my  feet.  As  I  inhaled  the  fragrance,  a  sense 


l8o  ARABESQUES. 


of  repose  and  strength,  a  quick  gayety,  ran 
through  me.  I  felt  my  color  rise  and  my  eyes 
sparkle. 

"Yes,  it  is  so,"  she  said,  nodding  gently  her 
head.  "  Now  you  are  no  longer  tired,  you  need 
neither  food  nor  rest.  You  never  inhaled  that 
odor  before.  It  pleases  you  well." 

And,  so  saying,  she  drew  forward  a  cushion 
and  seated  herself  before  me,  gazing  at  me  with 
an  expression  of  gentle  gladness.  She  sat  some 
time  silent,  examining  my  face  with  a  look  of 
innocent  curiosity.  At  length,  "  I  am  glad  you 
have  it,"  she  said ;  and,  sinking  her  voice,  she 
added,  "  Always  keep  it,  close  on  your  heart." 

I  gazed  at  her  in  amazed  wonder.  How  did 
this  maiden  know  what  had  chanced? 

"  Surely,"  she  answered  to  my  thought,  "  I 
know  it  all." 

"How?"  I  still  internally  queried. 

She  replied,  "That  is  very  simple.  I  see 
when  I  look  ;  I  hear  when  I  listen." 

As  I  gazed  at  her  lovely,  shifting  face,  with 
its  still,  sweet  eyes,  my  attention  was  drawn  by 
a  motion  in  the  skeleton  behind  her.  It  turned 
half  round  on  its  pedestal,  raised  its  bony  hand, 
and  pointed  towards  a  closed  window. 

"  Look  there,"  I  said,  my  eyes  fixed  upon  the 
fleshless  form. 


OMBRA.  181 


She  did  not  move  her  head,  but  replied, 
"  Some  one  is  coming." 

Then,  rising,  she  approached  the  old  man. 
"  My  father,  the  slave  warns  you,"  she  said. 

"Who  is  it?"  replied  the  astrologer,  without 
removing  his  eye  from  the  telescope. 

Looking  at  her,  I  then  saw  a  singular  change 
take  place  in  her  appearance.  All  the  color 
died  out  of  her  face  and  figure.  She  stood  thus 
an  instant ;  then  she  raised  her  lids,  and  the 
vapory  tints  returned. 

"  Rise  to  meet  her,"  she  said.  "  It  is  a  noble 
lady  from  afar." 

Unwillingly  the  old  man  quitted  his  telescope, 
and  drew  his  robe  more  closely  about  him,  as  he 
prepared  to  descend. 

"  Stay,  Ombra,"  he  said,  turning  as  he  reached 
the  door.  "  You  must  not  remain  here  with 
this  brave  gallant."  And  a  sneer  writhed  his 
wrinkled  features  as  his  eye  rested  for  an  in 
stant  upon  me.  "When  I  return,  you  must  be 
hence." 

As  he  withdrew,  Ombra  silently  unclosed  the 
barred  window,  through  which  the  skeleton  had 
pointed,  and  signed  to  me  to  follow.  She  led 
me  up  a  flight  of  steps  cut  in  the  exterior  wall, 
to  the  flat  roof  of  the  tower.  The  moonlight 
fell,  still  and  mournful,  on  the  ruins,  drawing  a 


1 82  ARABESQUES. 


silver  veil  of  beauty  over  their  decay.  Ombra 
stood  beside  me,  her  crossed  hands  hanging 
before  her,  her  radiant  eyes  upturned  towards 
the  stars.  As  I  gazed  upon  her  wonderful, 
unreal  beauty,  a  thought,  a  question,  arose  in 
my  mind.  She  answered  it  gently. 

"  Yes,  it  was  I  that  called  you." 

"Wherefore?  "I  asked. 

"  The  stars  bade  me,"  she  replied,  still  gazing 
at  them. 

"  But  the  stars  are  silent,"  I  said. 

"  Nay,  their  voices  fill  all  space.  Do  you  not 
hear  them?" 

And  she  raised  her  hand  in  the  attitude  of  one 
listening. 

"What  say  they  to  you,  O  maiden?"  I  said 
in  a  hushed  tone,  for  I  perceived  that  she  heard 
them. 

"  Their  song  may  not  be  framed  into  mortal 
speech,"  she  replied.  "  They  tell  of  the  mys 
teries  that  were  before  the  world  began,  that  are, 
and  that  ever  shall  be.  Each  in  its  measure,  in 
its  appointed  place,  lifts  up  its  voice  and  sings  of 
the  glory  of  God,  of  the  marvels  of  those  secret 
laws  by  which  Beauty  is  spread  through  the 
breadth  of  Creation,  and  by  which  Love  fills 
the  loneliness  of  Space." 

She  ceased  and  stood  as  before,  her  eyes  fixed 


OMBRA.  183 


on  the  depths  of  the  sky.  I  gazed  on  her  and 
wondered. 

"Who,  what  are  you,  beautiful  one?"  I  ques 
tioned. 

"  I  am  Ombra,"  she  answered. 

"  Your  kindred,  —  where  are  they  ?  " 

"  The  clouds  of  the  morning,  the  spray  of 
the  waterfall,  the  dewdrops  on  the  grass,  the  rip 
ples  that  sparkle  on  the  sea,  —  they  are  my 
kindred." 

"Wherefore  dwell  you  not  with  them?" 

"  Because  he  loves  me." 

"  Is  there  none  else  for  him  to  love?" 

"None  else  would  dare  to  love  him." 

"Wherefore?" 

A  look  of  ineffable  pity  crossed  her  lovely, 
shifting  face.  She  turned  towards  me  and  said, 
slowly,  — 

"  //  is  Mazitkar 

At  the  echo  of  the  dreaded  name  of  that  arch 
enemy  of  humankind,  a  chill  of  horror  invaded 
my  every  sense.  I  closed  my  eyes  for  an  instant. 
I  felt  the  strength  forsaking  my  members,  as  if 
the  deadly  spell  of  his  eye  had  been  already  cast 
over  me.  A  movement  of  indignation  mingled 
with  and  chased  my  terror  as  I  remembered  the 
witching  strain  by  which  I  had  been  enticed  to 
the  vicinity  of  that  hoary  demon.  I  turned  to 


184  ARABESQUES. 


my  lovely  companion  with  words  of  reproach 
up'on  my  lips ;  but  I  saw  nothing  save  a  form  of 
mist  by  my  side.  As  I  watched,  the  color  re 
turned.  She  met  my  indignant  look  with  a  gaze 
of  pitying  tenderness. 

"  Listen,"  she  said.  "  Beside  Mazitka  sits  a 
woman,  tall  and  fair.  Her  hair  is  red  and 
waved,  her  eyes  are  black  and  small,  her  nose  is 
high  and  arched,  her  lips  are  thin  and  ruddy. 
On  her  right  cheek  is  a  crimson  mole.  Know 
ye  her?" 

I  felt  my  flesh  creep  anew.  What  horrible 
mystery  lay  before  me  ? 

"  It  is  my  step-mother,"  I  said.  "  Wherefore 
comes  she  hither?" 

"  It  was  for  this  the  kindly  stars  called  you," 
she  replied. 

And,  as  she  spoke,  again  her  life  faded  from 
my  sight,  and  again  the  mist-like  figure  stood  by 
me  in  the  silence  of  the  moonlight,  and  the  deso 
lation  of  ruin  around. 

Tossed  and  bewildered  as  was  my  mind  by 
the  unexpected  and  sinister  events  which  had 
befallen  me,  there  was  yet  one  conviction  which 
rose  clear  and  strong  upon  me,  —  belief  in 
Ombra,  in  her  will  and  power  to  protect  and 
save  me.  But  one  dearer  than  myself,  —  had  she 
power  to  protect  and  save  him  also,  that  noble 


OMBRA. 


and  honored  father,  too  lofty  to  think  suspicion, 
too  loyal  to  dream  distrust?  As  I  stood,  the 
past  rose  menacing  before  my  memory.  I  re 
called  the  majestic  presence  of  my  father,  his 
lonely  life  as  he  mourned  for  the  young  wife 
who  had  died  in  bringing  me  into  the  world  ; 
the  hush  of  the  melancholy  palace  in  which  my 
early  years  had  been  spent,  and  on  which  the 
sun  never  seemed  to  shine.  Again  I  saw  the 
figure  of  my  father's  ward,  left  orphan  and  pen 
niless  by  the  death  of  her  only  parent,  accom 
panied  by  her  duenna,  come  gliding  by  my 
father's  side  up  the  broad  staircase  of  his  palace, 
the  sunbeams  that  stole  timidly  through  the 
heavy  windows  reflected  from  her  snowy  neck 
and  seeking  a  prison  in  the  dusky  glow  of  her 
curling  auburn  hair.  Again  I  saw  her  cat-like 
tread  as  she  passed  through  the  stately  rooms, 
the  wily  grace  with  which,  as  she  reached  the 
suite  prepared  for  her,  she  thanked  him  for  his 
hospitality,  and  raised  his  spare,  strong  hand  to 
her  soft,  red  lips.  And  I  recalled  the  look  of 
furious,  smothered  hate  which  she  cast  on  me  a 
little  later,  when  she  heard  me  say  to  my  father 
that  Donna  Pasquita  was  not  half  so  beautiful 
as  the  picture  of  my  mother,  hanging  in  the 
great  saloon. 

Ombra's  voice  broke  the  chain  of  my  troubled 


i86 


ARABESQUES. 


memories.  Turning  her  face  towards  the  east, 
again  she  breathed  forth  the  sweet  notes  with 
their  persuasive,  irresistible  charm.  Soon  a 
low,  rushing  sound  came  from  the  distance.  I 
saw  the  trees  on  the  hill- tops  which  lay  to  the 
eastward,  bending  and  swaying.  Then  I  felt 
the  sweep  of  the  wind  upon  me.  It  circled 
around  the  tower ;  and  it  brought  to  my  ear, 
sharp  and  distinct,  the  voices  of  the  speakers 
within. 

"  And  therefore,  fearing  this,  I  would  rid  my 
self  of  him,"  said  my  step-mother's  voice. 

"  You  have  reason,"  replied  Mazitka. 

"  But  no  common  means  will  serve  me  ;  else  I 
had  not  travelled  so  far  to  seek  you,"  continued 
my  step-mother.  "  His  leech  is  a  crafty  and 
si-lent  man.  He  doubts  me.  No  drug  which 
may  leave  any  trace  must  be  employed.  It 
must  seem  some  natural  disease." 

"  And  the  more  sudden,  the  better,"  rejoined 
Mazitka. 

"  The  more  sudden,  the  better,"  repeated  my 
step-mother.  And  there  was  silence. 

Although  as  yet  no  word  had  revealed  it,  I 
felt  assured  it  was  my  father's  death  that  they 
were  conspiring.  I  clutched  my  dagger,  and 
was  about  to  rush  in  upon  them,  when  Ombra's 
hand  was  laid  upon  mine,  and  she  whispered,  — 


OMBRA.  187 


"Not  so.  No  earthly  weapon  can  harm 
Mazitka." 

"  But  the  woman  !  "  I  replied. 

"  Her  hour  is  not  yet  come,"  my  companion 
returned. 

Nevertheless,  I  would  have  disobeyed  her 
injunction,  such  was  the  passion  of  rage  and 
indignation  that  possessed  me,  and  the  next 
moment  would  have  seen  my  dagger  deep  in 
the  breast  of  my  father's  wife,  had  not  Ombra 
lifted  her  hand.  Immediately  I  felt  myself  pin 
ioned  by  an  invisible  force  that  pressed  upon  me 
from  every  side.  I  could  move  neither  hand 
nor  foot. 

"  Listen,"  she  said  again. 

And  again  I  hearkened  to  the  air-borne  words. 

"  A  swift  paralysis,  benumbing  brain  and 
members,  that  shall  leave  no  time  for  question 
or  misgiving,  that  shall  smite  him  down  even  in 
the  midst  of  his  friends,  and  send  him  in  funeral 
pomp  to  join  his  forefathers." 

"It  is  that,  Mazitka:  give  me  that!"  she 
eagerly  exclaimed. 

"  Yes,  these  are  precious  drops,"  he  said 
slowly,  after  a  pause.  "  Wiser  than  doctors  of 
law,  of  physic,  and  of  divinity,  they  cure  all 
ills  alike.  The  needy  heir  forgets  his  stolen 
birthright ;  the  fevered  soldier  pines  no  longer 


188  ARABESQUES. 


for  the  sound  of  the  trumpet  and  the  turmoil  of 
the  affray ;  the  cowering  wretch  shrinks  no 
more  from  the  black  gulf  of  the  hereafter. 
In  this  one  pellucid  drop  there  lies  the  cure  for 
all." 

"  And  it  is  this ! "  she  said,  in  a  lower  tone. 
"  And  there  is  no  antidote  to  be  feared,  no 
remedy  which  may  call  back  life?"  she  ques 
tioned  jealously. 

"  Fear  not,"  he  answered.  "  The  drops  are 
distilled  from  honey.  Speedier,  deadlier  are 
they  than  the  powder  of  Trophonius,  or  the 
cordial  of  Liante  ;  nay,  subtler  even  than  the 
essential  vapor  of  Coryatra.  For  these  left 
traces  recognizable  by  a  practised  eye,  —  black 
spots,  or  sudden  convulsions,  or  foaming  frenzies. 
But  this  silent  servant  works  faithfully  and  dis 
creetly.  No  grim  contortion  stiffens  the  falling 
corpse  ;  no  discourteous  blotches  betray  the  secret 
of  the  forced  obstruction  of  the  vital  currents ; 
no  telltale  drops  moisten  the  forehead  of  him 
who  is  no  longer  needed.  They  all  die  stricken 
with  paralysis,  —  all,  —  and  they  are  many." 

"And  there  is  no  antidote?"  she  questioned 
anxiously  again. 

"  None  that  can  avail." 

"  But  I  must  be  safe.  I  will  not  tempt  fate. 
I  will  have  no  resurrection  to  destroy  me." 


OMBRA.  189 


"  Dread  nothing,  O  courageous  lady ! "  he 
sneered.  "  The  secret  of  the  antidote  is  in  the 
keeping  of  Malaloul.  I  know  it  not  myself. 
Fear  not  that  any  will  go  to  question  her  where 
she  aits  amid  the  dead.  Now  for  my  counsel. 
Give  it  not  in  secrecy.  Spies  may  dog  you  ; 
servants  may  betray  you ;  the  leech  may  come 
upon  you  when  you  are  least  aware.  The  only 
safety  is  in  open  hall,  'mid  feasting  and  music 
and  joyful  converse.  There  the  light-footed 
Death  can  with  one  finger-tip  summon  its  part 
ner  ;  and  all  shall  see  him  depart  of  his  own  free 
will  and  pleasure,  regardless  of  the  lamentations 
of  his  inconsolable  spouse."  And  the  air  shud 
dered  with  his  mocking  laugh. 

"  On  the  eighth  day  there  is  a  great  festival  to 
celebrate  the  birthday  of  my  son,"  she  returned. 
"  Search  in  the  horoscope,  Mazitka.  See  if  the 
stars  promise  favorably  for  that  day." 

For  a  while  I  heard  nothing ;  then  the  wind 
brought  to  me  anew  the  sound  of  Mazitka's  voice. 

"  The  influences  are  balanced.  All  depends 
on  your  own  firm  will  and  steady  brow." 

"Then  farewell,  O  Duke  Alonso  de  Guata- 
marra  !  "  she  slowly  replied. 

It  was  my  father's  name  ! 

I  listened  in  vain  for  more.  No  further  word 
came  to  my  straining  ear. 


190  ARABESQUES. 

Presently  I  saw  a  veiled  figure  issue  from  the 
shadow  of  the  tower.  A  man  came  forth  from 
one  of  the  ruins  holding  a  mule,  upon  which 
the  woman  mounted ;  and  they  disappeared  in 
one  of  the  ruined  streets  which  led  toward*  the 
south. 

I  looked  up  to  the  heavens,  half  expecting  that 
some  sudden  bolt  of  vengeance  would  fall  upon 
this  monster  in  woman's  form ;  but  the  stars 
gazed  silently  down,  registering  all  in  their  mys 
terious  archives,  but  giving  no  sign. 

"  Now  depart,"  said  Ombra,  her  deep-blue 
eyes  shining  upon  me  from  her  lovely,  shifting 
face.  "SeekMalaloul.  The  way  lies  before  you 
on  the  west.  Pass  between  the  two  hills  which 
rise  like  a  cleft  cone  on  the  left.  Beyond  them 
you  will  see  a  mountain,  its  summit  covered 
with  snow.  Skirt  its  base  until  you  come  to  a 
cliff  on  whose  brink  stands  a  withered  pine-tree. 
Follow  the  direction  in  which  it  points.  You 
will  see  a  mosque.  Enter,  and  stand  in  the  cen 
tre.  You  will  find  Malaloul.  Say  to  her,  *Ma- 
zitka  is  at  work.'  It  will  be  enough." 

As  she  spoke,  the  astrologer's  voice  was  heard 
from  within  calling  upon  her.  As  I  caught  the 
tone,  I  wondered  mentally  why  God  permitted 
such  an  incarnation  of  fiendish  malignity  to  pro 
fane  the  face  of  his  fair  earth. 


OMBRA.  191 


"  He  is  not  all  evil,"  Ombra  whispered  ;  "  he 
loves  me." 

She  entered  the  tower.  I  followed  her.  The 
astrologer  smiled  as  she  approached  and  stood 
beside  him.  He  cast  his  arm  around  her,  and 
drew  her  nearer.  The  contact  of  that  fair  purity 
seemed  sweet  to  the  mighty  wizard. 

"  My  father,  the  guest  must  depart,"  said 
Ombra. 

"What!  are  you  wearied  of  him  already?" 
queried  Mazitka,  glancing  at  me  askance. 

"  He  must  depart,"  repeated  Ombra.  "  He 
waits  to  say  farewell." 

Mazitka  rose,  and  turned  so  as  to  face  me. 
As  his  eye  fell  upon  me,  the  expression  of  his 
face  abruptly  changed.  He  launched  at  me  a 
glance  which  seemed  to  pierce  my  very  brain ; 
then,  with  a  sudden  movement,  he  leaned  forward 
and  caught  up  my  right  hand.  As  he  fastened 
his  eye  upon  the  lines  of  the  palm,  he  uttered  a 
low  laugh  ;  then,  dropping  it,  he  removed  the 
fur  cap  from  his  head,  and  bowed  his  tall  figure 
with  a  gesture  of  humility  which  contrasted 
strangely  with  the  sneering  glance  that  accom 
panied  it. 

"  Had  I  known,  O  puissant  young  lord,  whom 
it  was  that  I  had  the  honor  to  receive  in  my  poor 
dwelling,  I  should  have  offered  you  a  different 


192  ARABESQUES. 


entertainment.  But  since  you  must  needs  de 
part,  I  wish  you  good  speed  on  the  long  journey 
that  lies  before  you." 

As  I  stood,  my  glance  riveted  upon  him,  I 
saw  a  singular  change  take  place.  His  right 
eye  grew  lustreless  and  dim  ;  its  eyelid  drooped  ; 
while,  at  the  same  instant,  the  left  eye  suddenly 
expanded .  and  sent  forth  a  blinding  bolt.  It 
struck  full  upon  me.  My  heart  seemed  to  stop. 
A  sensation  of  deadly  coldness  spread  through 
my  every  vein.  I  felt  my  vital  forces  failing. 
But  immediately  I  perceived  a  current  of 
warmth  proceed  from  the  little  carnelian  heart 
that  rested  upon  my  breast.  It  flowed,  cheering 
and  invigorating,  throughout  my  frame,  chasing 
the  cold  damps  that  had  begun  to  settle  upon  my 
forehead,  and  sending  ruddy  life  to  every  pore. 
I  breathed  again. 

Ombra,  standing  beside  the  astrologer,  smiled 
upon  me,  and  with  her  transparent  hand  mo 
tioned  me  farewell.  I  gazed  one  instant  upon  her 
sweet  face,  with  its  radiant  eyes  and  changeful 
outlines  framed  in  the  shining  gold  of  her  long 
hair,  and  then  I  turned  away. 

I  descended  the  steep  and  broken  steps,  and, 
mounting  my  horse,  proceeded  through  the  deso 
late,  grass-grown  streets,  with  their  long  series  of 
ruined  colonnades,  their  sculptured  fa9ades  and 


OMBRA. 


193 


fallen  gateways,  until,  leaving  the  silent  city,  I 
passed  through  the  cloven  cone  of  the  western 
hills. 

Beyond,  glittering  in  the  moonlight,  rose  the 
solitary,  snow-crowned  mountain.  I  gained  its 
foot,  and,  skirting  its  base,  I  came  at  length  to 
the  broken  cliff  on  whose  topmost  verge  stood 
the  withered  pine-tree.  Black  and  riven  it 
towered  aloft,  and  stretched  forth  a  giant  arm, 
pointing  across  the  desert  plain.  Turning,  I 
obeyed  its  mute  command. 

The  sandy  waste  stretched  before  me  as  far 
as  my  eye  could  reach.  I  dismounted  and  pro 
ceeded,  leading  my  horse,  which  sank  above  the 
fetlock  in  the  fine,  glittering  sand  at  every  step. 
For  several  hours  we  thus  toiled  on  with  diffi 
culty.  Finally  I  descried  a  distant  dome  before 
me.  With  renewed  courage  I  cheered  my  weary 
steed,  and  pressed  onward. 

As  I  came  nearer,  I  perceived  a  Moorish 
mosque.  At  a  little  distance  was  a  graveyard, 
the  sculptured  turbans  on  its  tombstones  shining 
brightly  in  the  moonlight.  Contrary  to  the 
usual  Moslem  custom,  there  were  no  solemn 
cypresses  nor  fragrant  rose-trees  around.  Neg 
lect  had  probably  destroyed  them  long  ago. 

I  ascended  the  steps,  and  entered  the  circular 
hall  within.  The  delicate  arabesques  and 
13 


194  ARABESQUES. 

mouldings  of  sculptured  stone  were  fresh  as  if 
they  had  just  left  the  cutter's  chisel ;  yet  all 
breathed  an  air  of  deep  antiquity,  of  changeless 
repose.  The  echo  of  my  own  steel-clad  foot 
steps  startled  me  as  they  resounded  from  the 
moonlit  vault  above.  They  seemed  a  profanation 
of  the  weird  slumber  of  Time. 

In  the  centre  of  the  hall  lay  a  large,  black 
marble  slab.  I  advanced  and  stood  upon  the 
stone.  It  instantly  began  to  sink.  I  grasped  my 
cross-hilted  sword  tightly  upon  my  breast,  and 
glanced  around.  I  was  sinking  into  utter  dark 
ness.  I  could  see  nothing  save  the  fast-receding 
moonlight  above  me. 

The  stone  was  at  length  arrested  in  its  de 
scent.  I  reached  out  my  hands,  and  groped  in  the 
surrounding  obscurity.  A  narrow  passage  was 
before  me.  I  moved  onward  until  I  reached  its 
extremity.  Facing  me  was  what  seemed  a  solid 
wall  of  stone.  I  passed  my  hand  over  its  surface. 
As  far  as  I  could  judge,  it  was  formed  of  one 
enormous  block.  Exerting  all  my  strength,  I 
pushed  violently  against  its  opposing  mass.  It 
yielded,  and,  slowly  revolving  upon  some  hidden 
pivot,  revealed  the  entrance  to  a  chamber  within. 

The  sight  before  me  was  not  of  a  reassuring 
character.  I  found  myself  in  a  low  but  spacious 
crypt,  dimly  lighted  by  a  lamp  of  bronze  which 


OMBRA.  195 


hung  from  the  arched  ceiling.  In  niches  around 
were  placed  stone  coffins.  At  the  upper  end 
of  the  vault  stood  a  dark  sarcophagus.  What 
looked  like  a  heap  of  loosely  piled  drapery  lay 
beside  it  on  the  ground.  I  looked  around  in 
vain  for  the  sorceress.  No  human  being  was  to 
be  seen.  I  called  upon  her  name.  There  was 
no  answer.  Again  I  called.  Nothing  but  silence 
replied. 

My  look  unconsciously  rested  upon  the  loosely 
piled  heap  of  drapery,  as  I  stood  pondering  what 
was  to  be  my  next  step.  Suddenly  I  started 
violently.  Two  eyes  were  gazing  fixedly  at  me 
from  out  the  shapeless  mass.  As  I  remained 
staring  upon  them  like  one  fascinated,  a  harsh 
voice  came  through  the  heavy  stillness,  say 
ing,— 

"  Wherefore  come  ye  to  disturb  me,  watching 
beside  my  dead?" 

The  words  that  Ombra  had  dictated  rose 
responsive  to  my  lips. 

"Mazitka  is  at  work,"  I  replied. 

A  long,  fierce  cry  broke  from  the  sorceress's 
lips,  and  rang  circling  through  the  crypt.  Each 
close-sealed  coffin  seemed  to  find  a  voice  to  echo 
back  that  wrathful  shriek.  She  sprang  to  her 
feet.  Foam  flew  from  her  quivering  lips ;  her 
eyes  darted  forth  flashes  of  vengeful  light.  She 


196  ARABESQUES. 


shook  with  the  passion  of  her  rage,  as  a  pine- 
tree  trembles  in  the  fury  of  the  storm. 

"  Ye  do  well  to  seek  me,"  she  said,  when  at 
last  her  passion  began  to  calm  itself.  "  Now 
tell  me  wherein  I  may  defeat  his  projects,  and 
bring  his  hated  name  to  shame  and  scorn." 

I  briefly  recounted  to  her  all.  When  I  had 
finished,  she  turned  toward  the  sarcophagus. 

"  Hearest  thou,  my  father?  "  she  said.  "  Now 
shall  the  faithless  fox,  the  poisonous  adder,  who 
crept  into  thy  life,  be  confounded.  Again  will  I 
foil  him.  Again  shall  thy  dead  lips  smile." 

She  turned  to  me. 

"  Come  hither,"  she  said.  "  Stand  where  you 
can  see  your  image  reflected  in  the  polished 
stone.  Whatever  you  may  behold,  move  not, 
speak  not,  until  the  charm  be  completed." 

With  that,  she  placed  me  so  that,  reflected  on 
the  polished  side  of  the  sarcophagus,  I  saw  my 
own  steel-clad  figure,  illumined  by  the  lamp 
which  hung  above. 

Malaloul  raised  her  hands  above  her  head, 
and  began  to  speak  rapidly  words  that  I  knew 
not.  As  she  spoke,  I  beheld  my  image  gradu 
ally  fading  from  the  mirror.  It  dimmed  before 
my  sight  until  it  had  totally  vanished.  Then 
she  ceased  the  unknown  speech,  and  said  to 
me, — 


OMBRA.  197 


"  Look  on  your  left  hand,  but  speak  not  yet." 

I  looked,  and  saw  myself.  Every  line  of  my 
features,  every  contour  of  my  limbs,  every  dint 
on  my  armor,  every  glittering  link  of  mail,  all 
were  there.  It  was  my  very  self.  But  the  eyes 
were  lustreless,  and  no  breath  heaved  the  shirt 
of  mail. 

"  Stretch  out  your  arm,"  she  said.  And,  bar 
ing  my  wrist,  she  punctured  a  small  vein.  As 
the  blood  sprang  forth,  she  caught  it  and  sprin 
kled  it  upon  the  form. 

u  Life,  give  life,"  she  said.  And  light  came 
to  the  visionless  eyes,  and  the  still  lips  parted 
with  the  living  breath. 

I  stood  amazed  at  what  this  might  portendT 
but  found  no  words  for  speech. 

Malaloul  approached  me,  and  put  a  little  crys 
tal  box  into  my  hand. 

"  Hark  to  my  words,"  she  said.  "Journey  to' 
the  southern  border  of  the  plain.  This  spectre 
will  accompany  you.  Follow  the  little  river 
that  you  will  find  there,  for  two  days,  southward. 
On  the  second  day  you  will  see,  stretched  dead 
beside  the  water's  brink,  a  monk.  Take  off  his 
robe,  and  clothe  yourself  in  it.  Then  let  the 
spectre  mount  your  horse  and  precede  you. 
Follow  and  watch." 

"  But  my  father?"  I  questioned. 


198  ARABESQUES. 

"  Fear  not  for  any  whom  Malaloul  protects," 
she  answered.  "  This  little  box  contains  a 
vapor.  Let  him  but  inhale  it,  and  the  deadly 
poison  wrought  from  honey  shall  prove  as  harm 
less  as  water  from  summer  brooks.  Life  shall 
return  to  your  father,  though  he  were  three  times 
dead ;  for  this  that  I  give  to  you  is  the  spirit  of 
that  precious  fluid  for  the  possession  of  which 
kings  have  offered  their  diadems,  and  sages 
through  long  centuries  have  toiled  in  darkness 
and  stillness  in  vain." 

I  would  have  thanked  the  sorceress,  but  she 
imposed  silence  upon  me  with  a  gesture  of  her 
hand. 

"  Thus  much  do  I,"  she  said  ;  "  and  now,  in 
my  turn,  I  lay  a  charge  upon  you.  The  days  of 
Mazitka  are  shrunken  to  a  span.  He  is  about 
to  sever  the  golden  cord  whereon  his  life  has 
hung.  Long  have  I  waited,  sitting  beside  my 
dead.  Long  have  I  studied  the  star-woven  web 
of  fate.  I  have  questioned  the  serpent  of  Vishnu, 
coiled  deep  in  the  fiery  waters  under  the  middle 
earth  ;  I  have  asked  of  the  tortoise  of  Odin,  in 
the  ice-ribbed  caverns  beneath  the  midnight 
pole  ;  and  the  unwearying  elephant  of  Simathin, 
beneath  his  everlasting  burden,  has  listened  to 
my  voice,  and  spoken  the  words  of  wisdom  to 
my  ear.  The  time  draws  near.  That  love 


OMBRA.  199 


which  has  protected  and  saved  him  hitherto  is 
dying  out.  Soon  he  will  stand  defenceless. 
The  hour  of  vengeance  approaches,  and  then 
be  ye  not  far  off.  I  give  to  you  the  life  ye  ask 
of  me,  and  ye  will  repay.  Of  days  a  score  and 
one  must  pass ;  then,  at  the  ninth  hour,  stand  at 
the  door  of  the  tower.  Open  ;  the  charm  will 
no  longer  close  the  portal  against  an  unfriendly 
hand.  Ascend  the  staircase.  The  slave  will 
give  no  sign.  Wait  and  watch.  See  that  your 
sword  be  sharp,  and  that  your  arm  be  strong." 

And,  as  she  ceased,  she  again  took  her  place 
on  the  ground  beside  the  stone  sarcophagus,  and 
resumed  her  watch  beside  the  dead. 

Side  by  side  with  the  spectre  I  passed  out  into 
the  subterranean  gallery,  and  the  heavy  door 
closed  behind  me.  I  walked  on  in  darkness, 
but  I  heard  the  measured  breathing  of  the  spec 
tre  and  the  sound  of  his  mail-clad  footsteps  ever 
by  my  side. 

At  the  extremity  of  the  passage  the  stone  still 
lay  upon  the  ground.  Looking  up,  I  saw  the 
daylight  shining  like  a  star  far  overhead.  I  took 
my  stand  with  the  spectre  upon  the  slab ;  and 
immediately  it  rose,  bearing  us  upward.  We 
reached  the  level  of  the  mosque.  The  stone 
became  motionless  beneath  our  feet,  fixed  firmly 
in  its  place. 


200  ARABESQUES. 

As  I  looked  around,  my  head  swam,  and  my 
feet  refused  to  support  me.  The  sunlight  which 
streamed  through  the  perforations  of  the  dome 
seemed  blazing  into  my  brain  ;  the  many-hued 
arabesques  danced  before  my  sight  in  wavering 
circles.  Then  for  a  while  there  was  blackness. 

When  I  again  unclosed  my  eyes,  they  rested 
on  the  spectre  of  myself,  standing  with  its  face 
turned  towards  the  south,  steadily  gazing  for 
ward.  '  Then  all  that  lay  before  rushed  upon  me  ; 
and  I  arose,  and,  descending  the  solitary  steps, 
mounted  my  horse,  and  took  my  way  towards  the 
border  of  the  plain.  The  spectre  walked  beside 
me,  its  eyes  ever  fixed  upon  the  south. 

Strange  though  it  may  appear,  this  unreal 
companionship  had  nothing  horrible  in  it.  It 
seemed  my  settled  purpose,  clothed  with  flesh, 
and  become  apparent  to  my  sense.  It  was  my 
will  that  walked  beside  me  over  the  burning 
sands,  its  unswerving  look  upon  the  distant 
south. 

At  nightfall  we  reached  the  border  of  the 
plain,  and  came  upon  a  little,  fast-flowing  river. 
Two  days  more  we  proceeded,  and  at  sunset  we 
found  the  monk  lying  under  a  thorn-tree  close  by 
the  murmuring  waters.  His  hands,  still  warm, 
were  folded  on  his  breast ;  the  breath  had  but 
recently  left  his  frame. 


OMBRA.  201 


I  scooped  a  grave  for  him  beneath  the  thorn- 
tree,  and  buried  him  there,  after  I  had  drawn 
from  the  shoulders  which  no  longer  needed  its 
protection  the  heavy  monastic  robe. 

I  clothed  myself  with  it ;  and,  when  I  had  done 
so,  the  spectre  mounted  my  horse,  and  we  again 
journeyed  on,  the  spectre  preceding  me  some 
twenty  stones'  cast,  silent  and  steadfast,  its  face 
ever  turned  towards  the  south. 

On  the  eighth  day  we  entered  a  deep  and 
gloomy  wood,  clothing  the  side  of  a  mountain. 
The  road  shrank  and  became  narrow  and  wind 
ing.  The  sunlight  broke  but  at  intervals  through 
the  knotted  branches  above  my  head ;  and,  as  I 
glanced  into  the  dim  recesses  on  either  hand, 
my  eye  lost  itself  in  the  obscure  confusion  of 
black  and  gray  trunks. 

I  saw  by  the  prints  of  the  horse's  hoofs  that 
I  was  following  the  spectre  of  myself;  but  so 
dark  and  so  winding  was  the  path  that  I  soon 
lost  sight  of  both  steed  and  rider. 

After  some  hours  of  difficult  ascent,  I  sud 
denly  heard  a  faint  cry,  as  of  some  animal  in  dis 
tress.  At  first  I  paid  no  heed,  but  it  continued 
until,  moved  by  compassion,  I  turned  aside  to 
trace  it.  I  found,  at  a  little  distance,  snared 
among  the  bushes,  a  milk-white  kid.  It  was  not 
struggling.  It  did  not  seem  frightened,  but  stood 


202  ARABESQUES. 


looking  about  it  inquiringly  with  its  large,  dark 
eyes,  and  at  intervals  uttering  its  quavering  cry. 

I  loosed  the  little  creature,  which  immediately 
bounded  away  and  vanished  amid  the  woven 
wilderness  of  trees.  Then  I  sought  to  find  again 
the  path,  but  I  searched  in  vain.  I  wandered 
till  I  was  weary.  At  last  I  saw  a  broader  light, 
and,  making  my  way  towards  it,  found  that  I  had 
reached  the  border  of  the  wood.  I  stood  on  a 
mountain  top.  Far  in  the  distance  lay  my  native 
city,  beside  the  silver  waters  from  which  it  takes 
its  name.  I  looked  eagerly  around  for  the 
spectre.  "  Surely  it  must  long  ere  this  have 
emerged  from  the  wood,"  I  thought. 

The  road  lay  level  and  long  before  me,  de 
scending  the  mountain  side ;  but  no  horse  or 
rider  was  there.  As  I  stood  gazing,  I  saw  three 
armed  men  of  ill-favored  aspect  issue  from  the 
wood,  and  hurry  towards  the  city.  I  quickened 
my  pace,  and  approached  them  so  nearly  that  I 
could  catch  their  words.  My  presentiments  had 
not  deceived  me.  Mazitka  had  warned  my  step 
mother.  These  were,  in  truth,  the  assassins  who 
had  been  set  to  watch  for  me,  to  shed  my  blood 
almost  in  sight  of  my  father's  house.  They 
were  exulting  over  the  rich  reward  that  awaited 
them,  now  that  their  mission  was  fulfilled. 

A  shuddering  compassion  crept  over  me,  an 


OMBRA.  203 


unreasoning  rage.  The  faithful  companion 
brought  into  being,  as  I  now  perceived,  to  re 
ceive  the  death-stroke  aimed  at  my  own  life,  lay 
foully  murdered  within  the  dark  recesses  of  that 
treacherous  wood,  while  I  stood  whole  and  un 
harmed,  the  living  tide  rushing  quick  in  my 
veins,  the  sun  shining  bright  upon  me,  the  sound 
of  the  summer  wind  in  my  ears.  I  felt  as  one 
whose  twin-brother  has  been  traitorously  done 
to  death.  I  clutched  the  sword  that  hung  be 
neath  the  folds  of  my  monkish  robe,  and  was 
about  to  rush  upon  the  three  murderers  before 
me,  when  suddenly  the  air  about  me  seemed 
to  become  vocal,  repeating  my  step-mother's 
words,  — 

"  On  the  eighth  day,  at  even-tide." 
I  dropped  my  sword.     I  had  a  nearer  mission 
than  to  avenge  my  own  wrongs.     I  clasped  the 
little  crystal  box,  and  hurried  on  amain. 

The  road  turned  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain, 
and  led  through  verdant  meadows  and  fertile 
fields,  past  smiling  gardens  and  cool,  still  groves. 
The  murderers,  more  lightly  armed,  had  out 
stripped  me.  I  lost  trace  of  them  in  the  wind 
ings  of  the  road  ;  but,  as  I  followed  on,  a  taint 
of  blood  left  by  their  footsteps  seemed  to  poison 
the  flower-scented  air,  and  ever  before  me  I  saw 
a  still,  dead  face,  —  the  face  of  the  spectre,  solemn 


204  ARABESQUES. 

and  steadfast  as  in  its  unreal  life.  My  head 
seemed  .turning.  The  words,  "  On  the  eighth 
day,  at  even-tide,"  went  ringing  in  my  ears.  I 
prayed  to  the  Blessed  Virgin,  I  implored  the 
saints,  and  still  I  hurried  on  amain. 

The  sun  went  down  behind  the  soft,  green 
hills ;  the  heavens  flamed  in  purple  and  gold, 
then  faded  into  the  dimness  of  twilight.  The 
lights  of  the  city  glimmered  before  me  like  a 
giant  diadem,  sparkling  on  the  ground.  I  felt 
neither  hunger  nor  thirst  nor  weariness,  but  still 
pressed  on  amain. 

I  reached  the  city  gates.  I  redoubled  my 
speed  as  I  threaded  the  streets,  swarming  with 
joyous  crowds,  all  swaying  in  one  direction.  I 
heard  my  father's  name  on  every  side.  I  caught 
that  he  feasted  that  day  all  the  nobles  of  the 
city  and  five  hundred  poor,  in  honor  of  the 
birthday  of  'his  second  son.  The  Duchess,  they 
said,  —  and  they  blessed  her,  —  had  but  the  day 
before  returned  from  her  pilgrimage  to  pray  for 
the  Duke  her  husband's  health.  And  chattering, 
laughing,  and  prating,  the  joyous  crowd  pressed 
on  towards  the  palace  where  that  daughter  of 
Sin  and  Death  sat  throned  beside  her  trusting 
lord,  —  the  lord  against  whose  sacred  life  she  was 
at  that  instant,  perchance,  raising  her  accursed 
hand. 


O.VBRA.  205 


The  crowd  gave  way  before  me  as  I  strode  on. 
My  religious  habit  imposed  respect ;  no.ne  hin 
dered  me,  none  sought  to  stay  me  in  my  impet 
uous  speed.  Panting  and  breathless,  I  reached 
the  open  square  before  the  palace.  It  was  one 
blaze  of  light,  one  surging  sea  of  human  life. 
I  forced  my  way  through  its  compact  mass,  and 
ascended  the  broad  steps,  on  either  side  of  which 
blazed  great  torches  above  the  heads  of  the 
assembled  lackeys  of  the  guests  within.  I  stood 
in  the  great  entrance-hall.  None  knew  me  in 
my  father's  house.  Servants  were  hurrying  to 
and  fro,  bearing  silver  and  golden  platters ;  the 
sound  of  music  and  feasting  came  from  the 
banqueting-hall  within,  and  through  the  open 
doorway  I  beheld  the  gallant  array  of  guests 
seated  around  my  father's  board,  whilst  from 
the  court-yard  below  arose  a  clamorous  din, 
the  mirth  and  rejoicing  of  the  poor  as  they 
feasted. 

I  advanced  with  rapid  strides  towards  the 
glittering  hall.  The  seneschal  held  out  his 
wand  to  bar  my  passage. 

"  The  Duke,"  I  said  hoarsely,  and  sought  to 
put  aside  the  wand. 

"  To-morrow,  good  father,  —  to-morrow,"  re 
plied  the  seneschal,  for  he  knew  me  not.  "  To 
night  the  Duke  and  Duchess  feast  their  friends. 


206  ARABESQUES. 


The  revel  is  at  the  highest.  Ye  can  have  no 
entrance  now." 

The  words  were  still  on  his  lips  when,  sudden 
and  sinister,  a  many-voiced  cry  broke  from 
within,  and  through  the  blazing  portal  I  beheld 
the  revellers  start  to  their  feet  in  dismay. 

I  sprang  forward.  I  saw  my  father  fallen 
back  in  his  chair  of  state,  his  face  ghastly,  his 
eyes  closed.  Over  him  hung  my  step-mother. 
The  guests  were  crowding  towards  him.  Cries 
of  affright  and  lamentation  resounded  through 
the  hall. 

I  burst  my  way  through  the  confused  ranks  of 
the  revellers ;  I  stood  beside  my  father,  and 
raised  that  dear  head  upon  my  breast;  then, 
holding  the  crystal  box  before  his  nostrils,  I 
crushed  it  in  my  hand. 

As  it  shivered  in  my  grasp,  a  soft,  pale  flame 
mounted  upward ;  a  faint,  delicious  perfume 
spread  around  ;  and,  blessed  be  Ombra  for  ever, 
the  life  which  had  forsaken  my  father's  frame 
returned.  He  slowly  opened  his  eyes,  sighing 
deeply,  and  gazed  as  in  astonishment  at  the  dis 
order  around. 

As  the  glad  and  wondering  exclamations  of 
the  guests  re-echoed  on  every  side,  I  raised  my 
self  and  stood  erect  beside  my  father.  I  turned 
my  face  towards  my  step-mother,  and  cast  from 


OMBRA. 


207 


oft'  my  armor  the  shrouding  monkish  robe. 
Silence  fell  upon  all  around.  Friends  and  kin 
dred  stood  motionless,  expectant,  scarcely  draw 
ing  their  breath.  All  felt  that  some  dark  tragedy 
was  to  be  unravelled  then  and  there. 

As  she  beheld  me,  the  Duchess  stretched  out 
her  palms  as  if  to  repel  a  sight  too  dreadful  to 
be  endured.  She  shrank  back  until  she  reached 
the  wall,  and  stood  there,  her  eyes,  dilated  with 
horror  unspeakable,  fixed  upon  me,  her  white 
face  and  marble  lips  showing  in  strange  and 
fearful  contrast  with  her  flashing  jewels  and 
gorgeous  robes. 

I  raised  my  hand  and  pointed  at  her.  I  knew  not 
my  own  voice,  so  hoarse,  so  deep  had  it  become. 

"  Pasquita,  Duchess  of  Guatamarra,  thrice- 
perjured  wife,  unnatural  step-mother,  I  denounce 
you  before  God  and  before  the  world  as  mur 
deress  and  accomplice  of  Mazitka  !  " 

As  I  ended,  she  remained  a  space  motionless 
in  the  deathlike  silence  around ;  then,  slowly 
sinking  to  her  knees,  she  fell  forward  upon  her 
face.  No  one  stirred  ;  no  one  approached  her  as 
she  lay,  struck  down  by  the  revelation  of  her 
monstrous  guilt.  At  length,  my  father,  who  had 
so  loved  her,  ordered  her  women  to  be  sum 
moned.  Shuddering,  they  raised  her,  and  carried 
her  away. 


208  ARABESQUES. 


At  midnight,  cowled  forms  knocked  heavily 
at  the  outer  gate.  It  opened.  They  spoke  no 
word,  but  silently  ascended  the  broad  staircase, 
and  turned  towards  the  Duchess's  apartments. 
When  they  descended,  they  bore  with  them  a 
woman.  Never  from  that  time  was  the  name  of 
my  father's  wife  breathed  within  the  walls  of  the 
palace  ;  never  did  she  emerge  from  that  mid 
night  into  the  light  of  day. 

Slowly,  in  the  shrouded  gloom  of  the  palace, 
rolled  on  the  hours  until  the  appointed  time  of 
Malaloul's  revenge  drew  near.  Then,  craving 
my  father's  permission,  again  I  took  my  way 
towards  the  ruined  city,  the  home  of  the  astrol 
oger,  the  dwelling-place  of  that  fair  vision  who 
called  herself  his  child.  Eight  days  I  travelled 
on,  ever  straining  my  ear  to  catch  the  remem 
bered  music  which  had  erst  called  me  thither ; 
but  silence  lay  over  the  blue  heavens  and  over 
the  soft,  green  earth.  No  winning  murmur  rip 
pled  past  my  ear.  Ombra's  voice  was  mute. 

The  time  was  come.  On  the  ninth  hour  I 
stood  at  the  foot  of  the  tower.  The  moon,  red 
and  lowering,  hung  in  the  western  sky.  It  cast 
an  angry  and  foreboding  glare  upon  the  dark 
summit  of  the  tower.  A  something  fearful  was 
in  the  air.  It  seemed  to  choke  me.  I  looked 
upward.  All  was  dark. 


OMBRA.  209 


Climbing  the  broken  steps,  I  reached  the 
heavily  clasped  portal.  It  yielded  to  my  touch. 
A  narrow  beam  shone  from  a  loop-hole,  and 
struck  upon  the  stone  wall  of  the  staircase.  I 
stayed  not  to  question  it,  but  sprang  noiselessly 
upward  to  the  circular  room.  I  gently  unclosed 
the  door.  Within  all  was  changed.  Mazitka 
no  longer  sat  beside  the  table,  studying  the  mys 
tic  circles  of  the  stars.  Dust  covered  the  heavy 
volumes  on  which  I  had  seen  him  so  intent. 
The  skeleton,  with  pendant  arms  and  bowed 
head,  stood  motionless  upon  its  pedestal.  The 
globe  of  light  above  had  waned  ;  it  shed  a  faint, 
uncertain  twilight  around.  The  creeping  mon 
sters  which  clung  to  the  walls  had  roused  from 
their  torpor  ;  their  flattened  and  venomous  heads 
were  moving  restlessly  ;  a  pale  light  was  flicker 
ing  from  their  eyes. 

Ombra  was  seated  on  a  cushion  beside  the 
wizard's  former  place.  Her  golden  hair  lay 
sweeping  the  ground  ;  her  face  rested  on  her 
clasped  hands.  A  fainter  glow  shimmered  from 
the  shifting  hues  of  her  raiment ;  the  light  of  her 
eyes  was  veiled  as  though  by  tears. 

I  looked  around  in  vain,  seeking  Mazitka. 
The  room  was  empty  of  his  hated  presence. 
Suddenly  I  recalled  the  beam  of  light  below.  I 
retraced  my  steps ;  and,  gazing  through  the 

H 


210  ARABESQUES. 

loop-hole,  unsefen,  beheld  him  whom  I  sought. 
In  a  narrow  cell,  Mazitka  stood  bending  over  a 
roll  of  ancient  parchment.  All  around  him  were 
things  ghastly  and  forbidden,  such  as  my  flesh 
crept  to  look  upon.  He  had  rifled  the  secret 
places  of  the  earth ;  he  had  disturbed  the  re 
pose  of  those  great  monsters  who  died  before 
the  Flood  ;  he  had  sought  in  the  caverns  of  Death 
for  the  secret  of  deathless  life  ;  he  had  ransacked 
the  treasury  of  prohibited  knowledge  for  that 
revelation  in  the  search  of  which  he  was  cast 
ing  aside  his  only  hold  upon  existence. 

He  rose  from  his  stooping  posture,  and,  shak 
ing  his  head  impatiently,  turned  again  to  the 
ancient  manuscript.  He  studied  it  for  a  time 
with  a  perplexed  and  frowning  brow.  Then 
I  saw  him  carefully  examine  the  margin  of  the 
page.  As  if  struck  by  a  sudden  thought,  he 
rose  hastily,  and,  seeking  a  small  vial,  poured 
a  few  drops  upon  the  vacant  space.  By  the  pale 
light  of  the  lamp  beside*  him  I  saw  some  hith 
erto  invisible  characters  gradually  detach  them 
selves  from  the  yellow  parchment. 

As  they  formed  themselves  into  words,  the 
necromancer's  face  grew  livid.  His  white  hair 
bristled  around  his  forehead.  Then  "  Ombra  !  " 
broke  like  a  groan  from  his  convulsed,  heaving 
chest.  With  an  abrupt  motion  he  hurled  the  roll 


OMBRA.  211 


from  him,  sank  into  his  chair,  and  pressed  his 
clenched  hands  before  his  eyes.  Presently  he 
removed  them,  and  sat  staring  at  the  empty  air 
before  him. 

"  Avaunt,  Death  !  "  he  hissed,  while  he  trem 
bled  in  every  limb.  "  My  hour  is  not  yet  come." 
He  paused  and  cowered  away,  his  eyes  still 
fixed  as  if  upon  some  bodiless  presence.  A 
hoarse,  rattling  sound  came  from  his  throat.  He 
shrank  as  it  were  into  himself  until  his  head 
was  sunk  deep  between  his  shoulders.  His 
every  feature  sharpened  as  if  wrung  by  some 
internal  spasm.  Then,  starting  to  his  feet,  he 
cried  in  a  piercing  tone  that  rose  into  a  shriek, 
"  Nor  ever  shall  come  !  " 

With  quivering  hand  he  took  from  the  table 
an  object  at  sight  of  which  my  blood  froze  with 
horror.  It  was  a  sacrificial  knife  of  stone. 

He  cast  his  eyes  stealthily  around  him.  He 
bent  his  ear  as  if  to  catch  any  wandering  sound. 
Then,  drawing  the  folds  of  his  robe  closely  about 
him,  the  monster  crept  towards  a  small  door, 
which,  opening,  revealed  a  narrow  staircase 
leading  upward  to  the  room  where  Ombra  sat. 

I  bounded  up  the  stone  stairway  I  had  de 
scended.  I  stood  again  at  the  door  of  the 
circular  hall.  The  dimness  of  conscious  horror 
brooded  within.  A  pulseless  silence  weighed 


212  ARABESQUES. 

on  all  around.  The  dying  lamp  glimmered 
faintly. 

I  looked  where  I  had  seen  Ombra.  A  fading, 
mist-like  shadow  alone  met  my  eye.  As  I  gazed 
upon  it,  a  little  door  stole  slowly  open,  and 
Mazitka  crept  forth,  the  fatal  knife  of  stone  up 
lifted  in  his  hand. 

The  link  was  severed.  The  mystic  bond  gave 
way.  And  as  Mazitka's  footstep,  bound  on  its 
fell  intent,  crossed  the  dark  threshold,  Ombra, 
that  spirit  of  light  and  love,  faded  before  his 
guilty  sight,  was  resolved  into  surrounding  space, 
and  left  him  to  his  doom. 

I  sprang  upon  the  wizard.  My  sword  was 
sharp,  my  arm  was  strong.  I  pli  nged  the  good 
steel  deep  in  his  accursed  heart. 

A  yell,  horrid  and  drear,  broke  upon  the  air. 
The  dying  lamp  went  out ;  the  foundations  of 
the  tower  heaved  and  shook  beneath  me ;  and 
from  the  distance  breathed  a  long,  faint  sigh. 

I  raised  me  from  where  I  bent  in  the  darkness 
above  the  lifeless  mass  that  had  been  Mazitka. 

"  Ombra  !  "  I  called  ;  but  no  voice  replied. 

She  had  vanished  utterly  and  for  ever,  —  van 
ished  to  be  beheld  no  more  save  in  the  glory  of 
the  sunlight,  the  shimmer  of  the  falling  rain, 
the  midnight  beauty  of  the  stars :  there  shall  I 
see  her  ever,  Ombra,  fair  shadow  of  a  shade. 


OMBRA.  213 


I  quitted  the  murky  blackness  of  the  tower, 
and  remounted  my  steed.  As  I  left  the  plain,  I 
turned  and  looked  back.  The  moon  had  sunk 
below  the  horizon ;  the  stars  shone  peacefully 
down  over  the  stillness  below  ;  the  summer  wind 
rustled  softly  amid  the  foliage  that  clothed  the 
mountain  side  ;  the  tinkling  of  a  little  brook  rose 
from  beside  my  horse's  feet.  I  gazed  incredu 
lously  around.  Had  that  silent  tower  ever  known 
an  earthly  habitant?  Had  Mazitka  been  but 
a  delusion?  Was  Ombra  but  a  dream?  And 
I  who  have  told  these  tales,  —  what  am  I  also, 
save  a  phantom,  unreal,  fast  fleeting,  vanishing 
even  as  I  speak  these  words? 


Cambridge :  Press  of  John  Wilson  and  Son. 


ARTHUR  HELPS'S  WRITINGS. 


1.  REALMAH.     A  Story.     Price  $2.00. 

2.  CASIMIR  MAREMMA.    A  Novel.    Price  $2.00. 

3.  COMPANIONS   OF  MY   SOLITUDE,     Price  $1.50. 

4.  ESSAYS  WRITTEN  IN  THE  INTERVALS  OF  BUS 

INESS.    Price  $1.50. 

5.  BREVJA     Short  Essays  and  Aphorisms.    Price  $1.50. 

From  the  London  Review. 

"  The  tale  (REALMAH)  is  a  comparatively  brief  one,  intersected  by  the 
conversations  of  a  variety  of  able  personages,  with  most  of  whose  names 
and  characters  we  are  already  familiar  through  '  Friends  in  Council.' 
Looking  at  it  in  connection  with  the  social  and  political  lessons  that  are 
wrapt  up  in  it,  we  may  fairly  attribute  to  it  a  higher  value  than  could  pos 
sibly  attach  to  a  common  piece  of  riction." 

From  a  Notice  by  Miss  E.  M.  Converse. 

"  There  are  many  reasons  why  we  like  this  irregular  book  (Realmah),  in 
which  we  should  find  the  dialogue  tedious  without  the  story;  the  story  dull 
without  the  dialogue ;  and  the  whole  unmeaning,  unless  we  discerned  the 
purpose  of  the  author  underlying  the  lines,  and  interweaving,  now  here, 
now  there,  a  criticism,  a  suggestion,  an  aphorism;  a  quaint  illustration,  an 
exhortation,  a  metaphysical  deduction,  or  a  moral  inference. 

"  We  like  a  book  in  which  we  are  not  bound  to  read  consecutively,  whose 
leaves  we  can  turn  at  pleasure  and  find  on  every  page  something  to  amuse, 
interest,  and  instruct.  It  is  like  a  charming  walk  in  the  woods  in  early 
summer,  where  we  are  attracted  now  to  a  lowly  flower  half  hidden  under 
soft  moss ;  now  to  a  shrub  brilliant  with  showy  blossoms ;  now  to  the  gran 
deur  of  a  spreading  tree ;  now  to  a  bit  o*"  fleecy  cloud ;  and  now  to  the  blue 
of  the  overarching  sky. 

side  of 


sug 
gestive  utterances  of  the  '  Noctes  ';  the  sparkling  and  brilliant  thoughts  of 
'Montaigne ';  and  the  gentle  teachings  of  the  charming  «  Elia.'" 

From  a  Notice  by  Miss  H.   W.  Preston. 

*'  It  must  be  because  the  reading  world  is  unregenerate  that  Arthur  Helps 
is  not  a  general  favorite.  Somebody  once  saia  (was  it  Ruskin,  at  whose 
imperious  order  so  many  of  us  read  '  Friends  in  Council,'  a  dozen  years 
ago?)  that  appreciation  of  Helps  is  a  sure  test  of  culture.  Not  so  much 
that,  one  may  suggest,  as  of  a  certain  native  fineness  and  excellence  of 
mind.  The  impression  prevails  among  some  of  those  who  do  net  read  him, 
that  Helps  is  a  hard  writer.  Nothing  could  be  more  erroneous.  His  man 
ner  is  simplicity  itself;  his  speech  always  winning,  and  of  a  silvery  dis 
tinctness.  There  are  hosts  of  ravenous  readers,  lively  and  capable,  who, 
if  their  vague  prejudice  were  removed,  would  exceedingly  enjoy  the  gentle 
wit,  the  unassuming  wisdom,  and  the  refreshing  originality  of  the  author 
in  question.  There  are  men  and  women,  mostly  young,  with  souls  that 
sometimes  weary  of  the  serials,  who  need  nothing  so  much  as  a  persuasive 
guide  to  the  study  of  worthier  and  more  enduring  literature.  For  most  of 
those  who  read  novels  with  avidity  are  capable  of  reading  something  else 
with  avidity,  if  they  only  knew  it.  And  such  a  guide,  and  pleasantest  of  all 
such  guides,  is  Arthur  Helps.  *  *  Yet  'Casinrir  Maremma'  is  a  charming 
book,  and,  better  still,  invigorating.  Try  it.  You  are  going  into  the  country 
for  the  summer  months  that  remain.  Have  '  Casimir '  with  you,  and  have 
'  Realmah,'  too.  The  former  is  the  pleasanter  book,  the  latter  the  more  pow» 
erful.  But  if  you  like  one  you  will  like  the  other.  At  the  least  you  will  rise 
from  their  perusal  with  a  grateful  sense  of  having  been  received  for  a  time 
into  a  select  and  happy  circle,  where  intellectual  breeding  is  perfect,  and  the 
struggle  for  brilliancy  unknown. 

Sold  everywhere.     Mailed,  post-paid,  on  receipt  of  adver 
tised  price,  by  the  Publishers, 

ROBERTS  BROTHERS,  BOSTON. 


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